Mailed ballots from rural locations could arrive too late to be counted. Here’s what to do.
By Ken Magri
Because this Tuesday’s special election is being conducted entirely through the mail, there is a chance that some late-mailed ballots may not arrive on time.
Due to a US Postal Service policy change that went into effect in April, ballots mailed on election day from over 50 miles outside of a regional processing facility might not arrive at that facility by the next day.
If not, those ballots will be considered late and not counted.
For North State voters including Butte, Glenn and Tehama Counties, the mail collection facility is in West Sacramento. Ballots need to officially arrive there and be postmarked no later than “November 4.”
On October 8, Assemblymember Alexandra Macedo (R, San Bernadino) sent the California Secretary of State Shirley Weber a letter requesting that immediate notifications about this problem be sent, not just to her 33rd District constituents, but to voters in all rural areas of the state.
“Ballots in the Central Valley, Central Coast, North State and rural communities may not be counted if they are dropped off at a post office on Election Day,” said Macedo’s letter.
On October 13, Weber issued a press release clarifying, “If mailing your vote-by-mail ballot, it is recommended that you mail your ballot early. In some locations, mail may not be postmarked by USPS until the following day.”
Those who sent in their ballot have already received or will receive notification from the Secretary of State’s office confirming their ballot arrived and their vote was counted.
For those still a few days out from election day, the best advice is to stop reading this, grab your ballot and go vote right now. Dropping a ballot in the mail by Monday or sooner should be fine.
If today is election day, check your local area for secure ballot box drop-off locations where ballots may be hand-delivered. For Butte County, here are the 16 drop-off locations:
- Oroville Hall of Records
- Butte County Library, Oroville
- Oroville City Hall
- Hmong Cultural Center, Oroville
- Butte County Library, Chico
- Department of Employment & Social Services, Chico
- Chico State Bell Memorial Union, Chico
- Chapman Elementary School, Chico
- Chico City Hall
- Butte County Library, Paradise
- Paradise Town Hall
- Butte County Library, Gridley
- Gridley City Hall
- Biggs City Hall
- Butte County Library, Durham
- Palermo Union School District
All secure ballot box drop-off locations will be open on election day until 8:00pm.
Shutting down a mini-conspiracy theory
Earlier in October a mini conspiracy theory spread across the state because of the little hole one sees in the 2025 election ballot envelope. A Sacramento voter posted a video showing his “no” vote appearing through the hole.
Other social media posts claimed that these holes were deliberately designed to reveal a “no” vote inside without having to open the envelope. Fox News contributor Steve Hilton, who is also running for Governor of California next year, asked for the November 4th election be “suspended until all ballot irregularities are fixed.”
The Secretary of State also addressed this issue in the October 13 press release:
“We have been seeing a great deal of misinformation about the November 4, 2025, Statewide Special Election ballot envelopes, and I want to set the record straight,” said Secretary Weber.
“The small holes on ballot envelopes are an accessibility feature to allow sight-impaired voters to orient themselves to where they are required to sign the envelope.”
The holes also confirm for election workers that there is an actual ballot inside the envelope.
Weber explained that individual counties design their own ballot envelopes. The state offers guidance on a proper design but does not demand exact uniformity from county to county. This issue only seemed to be a problem in Sacramento and Los Angeles Counties.
Nevertheless, concerned voters are allowed to fold their ballot in a different way that does not reveal the vote and slip it inside the envelope.
We mailed in our votes several weeks ago, but have not received any notification that they were received and tallied. Why?