Mail ballots dropped in a mailbox on Election Day may not get postmarked in time to count, San Diego County Registrar of Voters Shawn Brom warned.

Brom said changes in how the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) centralizes mail processing are behind the risk, CBS 8 first reported. USPS says it has not changed its postmarking practices but has adjusted transportation operations. That means some mail does not reach a processing facility the day it is mailed. Postmarks are applied by machine at those facilities and reflect the date of first automated processing, not the date a letter was dropped off.

In California, a mail ballot must be postmarked on or before Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 3, and arrive at the registrar's office within seven days. Without a timely postmark, the ballot will not be counted.

"The postmark is key in order for us to actually count that ballot as being received timely," Brom said.

Brom urged voters who insist on mailing their ballots on Election Day to take them to a post office counter and request a free manual postmark. USPS recommends mailing completed ballots well before Election Day and at least one week before the registrar's receipt deadline.

Brom's office has mailed more than 2 million ballots countywide. As of Wednesday, Oct. 14, about 124,000, roughly 6%, had been returned. Brom said that pace is higher than in the June primary and the last gubernatorial general election. His office has launched a "Vote Early" campaign on billboards and other media.

How Encinitas voters can skip the mail

Voters can bypass the postal system entirely by using one of more than 150 official ballot drop boxes across the county. Three are in the Encinitas area:

  • Cardiff-by-the-Sea Branch Library, 2081 Newcastle Ave. Open 24 hours through Nov. 2; closes at 8 p.m. on Election Day.
  • Encinitas Branch Library, 540 Cornish Dr. Hours vary by day; open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day.
  • Encinitas Chamber of Commerce, 535 Encinitas Blvd, Ste. 116. Open Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; closed Friday through Sunday. Open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day.

Three vote centers open in the Encinitas area starting Saturday, Oct. 31, through Nov. 3: Ada W. Harris Elementary School (MPR) at 1508 Windsor Rd. in Cardiff, Capri Elementary School at 941 Capri Rd. and Encinitas Community Center at 1140 Oakcrest Park Dr. Select vote centers countywide open as early as Saturday, Oct. 24.

Registration deadline is Oct. 19

The deadline to register and receive a mail ballot is Monday, Oct. 19. Voters who miss it can conditionally register and cast a provisional ballot in person at the registrar's office at 5600 Overland Ave. in Kearny Mesa or at any vote center starting Oct. 24, according to the County News Center.

The November ballot includes the governor's race, 14 state propositions, two countywide measures and additional local races. Voters can track their ballots at sdvote.com or call 858-565-5800.