Politics & Government

Vote by Mail Ballots Coming Monday for Special Election to Replace Sen. Emmerson

The 23rd Senate District election encompasses all or portions of Banning, Beaumont, Calimesa, Hemet, Menifee and San Jacinto, and is not a countywide election.

Voters will soon weigh in on a special election to fill the now-vacant 23rd California senate seat.

The seat was held by Republican Senator Bill Emmerson until Dec. 1, 2013, when he abruptly resigned from office, citing a lack of passion, after nine years.

"I have always felt that one had to be passionate about their work," Emmerson wrote on his website in November.  "In these past few months, my passion has waned and my constituents deserve a Senator with the level of commitment that I once had."

Find out what's happening in Banning-Beaumontwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

On Thursday, the Riverside County Registrar of Voters' office announced that some 78,000 vote-by-mail ballots will be mailed to voters starting Monday, Feb. 24, for the special primary election to fill Emmerson's seat.  The election is slated for March 25.  

"Ballots should arrive in mailboxes by the end of the week," an announcement stated.  "Voted ballots must be received by the Registrar of Voters office by 8 p.m. on March 25 to be counted in the upcoming election."

Find out what's happening in Banning-Beaumontwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Here's more from the announcement:

The 23rd Senate District election encompasses all or portions of Banning, Beaumont, Calimesa, Hemet, Menifee and San Jacinto, and is not a countywide election.  Call the Registrar’s office at (951) 486-7200 if you have any questions about your eligibility to vote.

 

Vote-by-mail ballots can be returned through the postal service or deposited in vote-by-mail drop-off boxes at participating city clerk offices.  Drop-off locations can be found on the registrar’s website at www.voteinfo.net.  A 24-hour drop box also is available outside the main entrance of the registrar’s office at 2724 Gateway Drive in Riverside.  Vote-by-mailballots also may be dropped off at any polling place within Riverside County before 8 p.m. on Election Day.

 

Voters have until March 18 to request a vote-by-mail ballot by completing the request form on the back of their sample ballot or by using the application form on the Registrar of Voters’ website at www.voteinfo.net.  The forms may be returned by mail or facsimile to (951) 486-7272.  As an additional convenience, voters may now request a vote-by-mail ballot over the phone.

 

Early voting at the Registrar of Voters office begins Monday (Feb. 24) and runs through March 24, Monday through Friday (excluding county holidays), from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and on Election Day from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.


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