New voting system kicks off in Sacramento

Fabrizio Sasso (far left) joined city leaders including Mayor Darrell Steinberg and Assembly member Kevin McCarty recently to open one of Sacramento’s new neighborhood voting centers.

“Sacramento’s innovative move into increasing options for voting is an important step towards empowering working people,” said Sasso. “Our vote is our voice, and Sacramento is making it easier for all people to use that voice.”

Under a pilot program being tested in five counties, 18 voting centers opened around Sacramento in recent weeks, and 60 more will open before the fall elections.

“Putting these neighborhood vote centers in neighborhoods and providing the flexibility to be able to come here for 11 days, on a weekend if that’s more convenient. The message is that everybody can vote,” Steinberg told media.

The new vote centers replace traditional polling places, and registered voters can now cast votes at any center no matter where they live.

In addition to voting in-person, voters can also drop off ballots and get replacement ballots, and voters also received mail-in ballots in May.

Even those who haven’t registered to vote have a second chance. Those who missed the voter registration deadline can fill out conditional voter registration forms at the centers.