What is a Vote Center?
What Can You Do in a Vote Center?
It’s all about convenience and choices.
Think of a Vote Center as your one-stop location for all things voting. Unlike traditional in-person options for voting, Vote Centers allow you to not only vote, but to solve voter registration issues, register to vote, get a replacement ballot, and get general assistance for 11 days, not just one. Plus, electronic check-in is more secure and speeds up the process – saving you valuable time.
Voting Options
More choices. More options.
Vote Centers mean many more options for voters. Elections are no longer a one-day event. Voting begins the month before any election day when every voter will receive a vote-by-mail ballot. Take advantage of the alternatives available to avoid congestion – from voting at home, drive-thru ballot drop-off, in-person options, returning your ballot via the United States Postal Service, or personally deliver your ballot to us – the choice is yours.
| Site Selection Considerations |
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| Vote center and ballot dropoff location proximity to public transportation. |
| Vote center and ballot dropoff location proximity to communities with historically low vote by mail usage. |
| Vote center and ballot dropoff location proximity to population centers. |
| Vote center and ballot dropoff location proximity to language minority communities. |
| Vote center and ballot dropoff location proximity to voters with disabilities. |
| Vote center and ballot dropoff location proximity to communities with low rates of household vehicle ownership. |
| Vote center and ballot dropoff location proximity to low-income communities. |
| Vote center and ballot dropoff location proximity to communities of eligible voters who are not registered to vote and may need access to same day voter registration. |
| Vote center and ballot dropoff location proximity to geographically isolated populations, including Native American reservations. |
| Access to accessible and free parking at vote centers and ballot dropoff locations. |
| The distance and time a voter must travel by car or public transportation to a vote center and ballot dropoff location. |
| The need for alternate methods for voters with disabilities for whom vote by mail ballots are not accessible to cast a ballot. |
| Traffic patterns near vote centers and ballot dropoff locations. |
| The need for mobile vote centers in addition to the number of vote centers established pursuant to this section. |
| Room size and location |
| Free parking available |
| Facility availability for multiple days and extended hours, including weekends |
Benefits of Vote Centers
When compared to traditional polling places, Vote Centers are the better choice.
Vote Centers are designed to improve the voter experience. While polling places have been a mainstay of voting for many years, the use of them has dropped dramatically in the past 20 years. Voters have gravitated towards more convenience, choosing instead to receive a vote-by-mail ballot and in many instances drop it off at a polling place, rather than vote in-person. Vote Centers adapt to these changes and offer many more conveniences.
| Features | Traditional Polling Place | Vote Center |
|---|---|---|
| Electronic voting system |  |
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| Drop off ballot at any site |
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| Disabled access voting | |
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| Ballot on-demand | |
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| Electronic secure check-in | |
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| Provisional ballots nearly eliminated | |
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| Trained employees | |
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| Vote at any location | |
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| Multi-day voting | |
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| Reduced costs | |