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Below is a statement from Humboldt County Registrar of Voters Juan Pablo Cervantes regarding the United States Postal Service and the November election:

Over the past several months, proposed changes to United States Postal Service rules and ongoing federal court challenges have created mail in voting uncertainty nationwide. The legal landscape is still shifting, and it does not serve voters to pretend we know how these cases will be resolved before the court’s rule. 

What we can do, and what we have done here in Humboldt, is prepare. Humboldt County’s Office of Elections is ready for the November 3 General Election. We are working directly with our print and mail partners to adapt, so voting stays smooth, secure and accessible for you.

Last-minute legal hurdles and logistics are our burden to carry, not yours. Your role as a voter is simple: make a plan, choose the method you trust most, and vote early. 

Returning your ballot early is the best way to remove any doubt. It protects your ballot against delivery delays, gives you peace of mind and ensures there is plenty of time to address any questions well before Election Day.

When ballots are mailed out the week of Oct. 5, you will have several trusted ways to cast your vote. You can send it back through the mail with prepaid postage, drop it off securely at an official 24/7 ballot drop box, or cast it in person at a Vote Center. Early in-person voting also opens Oct. 5 at the Humboldt County Office of Elections. We are located at 2426 Sixth St. in Eureka.

If the debate around mail delivery gives you any hesitation, I encourage you to use an official drop box or a Vote Center, where your ballot is handled directly by county election workers.

For complete details on official drop box locations, Vote Center hours and key deadlines, please consult your county Voter Information Guide, which will be mailed to you in late September, or visit our website at HumboldtGov.org/Elections.

Make your plan now, return your ballot as early as you can and let us handle the logistics. Thank you for your trust, your patience, and most importantly, for participating.

With gratitude,
Juan Pablo Cervantes, Humboldt County Clerk, Recorder & Registrar of Voters