It is well known that mail theft is very common, but with the special election in less than three weeks, do you know how to get a new mail-in ballot if it gets stolen or never arrives?
That’s the question neighbors had in Serra Mesa a couple of weeks ago when they saw a notice from USPS that their cluster box had been vandalized.
Some of the neighbors said their mail-in ballots were stolen, so NBC 7 Responds asked the San Diego County Registrar of Voters how to request a replacement ballot.
If your ballot was stolen, don’t worry. The barcode on the envelope is being tracked by the registrar of voters, so if yours is stolen, the registrar can suspend the ballot so no one can use it.
Report your mail-in ballot stolen and request a replacement, either online or by printing and filling out the application and submitting it to the registrar’s office via email or in person.
Where’s my ballot?
The registrar of voters encourages voters to track their ballot by signing up to receive automatic notifications about the status of their mail-in ballot.
You should also report any mail theft, especially of your ballot, to the United States Postal Inspection Service. It recommends protecting your mail by collecting it frequently. If you’re traveling, place a hold on your mail through USPS.
You can also sign up for Informed Delivery so you know what to expect in your mailbox in case something goes missing.
Security cameras are also a good idea. You can share the video footage with the U.S. Postal Inspection Service to help them catch thieves.
The last day to request a replacement vote-by-mail ballot for the Nov. 4 special election is Oct. 28 before 5 p.m.