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HomeElections CodeDiv. 3Ch. 1§ 3005 Small Precinct Mail Voting

§ 3005 Small Precinct Mail Voting

Elections Code·California
AI Summary·Official Text·Key Terms·Related Statutes·References
AI SummaryVerified

§ 3005 Small Precinct Mail Voting

Key Takeaways

  • •If a voting area has 250 or fewer registered voters, officials can mail ballots to everyone instead of opening a polling place.
  • •Voters will get a notice telling them where the two closest polling places are if they want to drop off their ballot in person.
  • •Voting areas cannot be split into smaller parts just to follow this rule.

Example

A small town has only 200 registered voters.

Instead of setting up a polling place, the town mails ballots to all voters. The voters can mail their ballots back or drop them off at one of the two nearest polling places in bigger towns nearby.

AI-generated — May contain errors. Not legal advice. Always verify source.

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 3005 Small Precinct Mail Voting

(a) Whenever, on the 88th day before the election, there are 250 or less persons registered to vote in any precinct, the elections official may furnish each voter with a vote by mail ballot along with a statement that there will be no polling place for the election. The elections official shall also notify each voter of the location of the two nearest polling places in the event the voter chooses to return the ballot on or before election day. (b) A precinct shall not be divided in order to conform to this section. (Amended by Stats. 2022, Ch. 161, Sec. 4. (AB 2608) Effective August 22, 2022.)

Last verified: January 23, 2026

Key Terms

vote by mail ballotpolling placeelections official250 or less persons registered to vote88th day before the election

Related Statutes

  • § 3010 Vote By Mail Ballot Delivery
  • § 3016 Mail Voter Provisional Ballots
  • § 11002 Recall Elections Officials Defined
  • § 11023 Recall Officer Response Requirements
  • § 13001 Election Expense Payment Rules

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Elections Code. Section 3005.
View Official Source