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Only use official County drop boxes

ballot-drop-box

*Note: The ballot drop box pictured with this article is the official ballot drop box used in Orange County.

Recent reports of groups promoting unofficial ballot drop boxes not affiliated with County and State elections has prompted the Registrar of Voters to warn local voters.

In some instances, they are promoting these ballot drop boxes as “official” or “secure,” the Registrar of Voters said in a press release. The use of unauthorized, non-official ballot drop boxes is illegal. 

Voters who want to return their ballot at a drop box should only use official County drop boxes (visit ocvote.com for all locations throughout the County). Official ballot drop boxes are clearly recognizable, designed to meet state standards for security, and bear the official Orange County Elections logo and Orange County seal.  

In Mission Viejo, the drop boxes are located at:

  • Florence Joyner Olympiad Park, 22761 Olympiad Road
  • Norman P. Murray Community and Senior Center, 24932 Veterans Way
  • Pavion Park, 24051 Pavion

City Hall will also host a drive-through ballot drop-off that will be staffed by Registrar of Voter employees from October 30 through November 2 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Voters can pull up and hand their ballot to an ROV employee without leaving their car. On Election Day, the staffed drop off site will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. 

Comments

Submitted by Nancy C Snyder on Thu, 10/15/2020 - 6:08 pm

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My husband and I take a nice little ride and drop our ballots off at the County Registrar's Office. There is a huge drop box right there and they come out and take the ballots throughout the day. You can also go inside and hand it to the Registrar. You only do this every four years and its so worth it.

Submitted by J. Flores on Thu, 10/15/2020 - 6:19 pm

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Thank you for the public service announcement. This article can be misleading though. The footnote indicating that the picture in the article is the official ballot dropbox should have been at the top or directly below the picture and highlighted.

Submitted by Doug Harding on Thu, 10/15/2020 - 8:36 pm

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It’s being done by the CA Republicans so beware. It’s illegal & they are ignoring Sacramento in its cease order.

Submitted by Nicolette on Thu, 10/15/2020 - 11:42 pm

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Thank you for warning us about the fake ballot boxes. I agree that in the comment above J. Flores makes an excellent point about the image of the ballot box image needing more clarification....ie "This is what a true official ballot box looks like". Furthermore, it might not hurt to also show a photo of a fake ballot box with a big dark "X" over the image stating, "This is what a fake ballot box looks like." In such matters as voting, I think it is perfectly okay to overstate basic info that is this important.

Submitted by Kime Goodrum on Fri, 10/16/2020 - 7:15 am

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Does the City know who is placing the unofficial ballot boxes and why?

If those unofficially placed ballots get turned over to the City or County will they be counted?

Submitted by Alicia on Fri, 10/16/2020 - 7:19 am

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It’s hard to see any OC LOGO, or OC SEAL, as described in the paragraph. Is it the small black circle near the open slot?

Thanks for clarifying.

Submitted by Mark Swirsky on Fri, 10/16/2020 - 7:20 am

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Wow. Did people honestly believe that this was a good option?

Anything to throw an election.

Let's see how many votes are not counted due to illegal efforts that will be extremely difficult to monitor or enforce.

Good luck!

Submitted by Victoria C Hofstein on Fri, 10/16/2020 - 8:22 am

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PLEASE REISSUE THIS ARTICLE

It is CRUCIAL that you reissue this article! The title UNOFFICIAL BALLOT BOXES followed by a picture of the OFFICIAL ballot box will discourage people from using the real ones, possibly leading them to use loose their votes! Not everyone will read the * at the end.
PLEASE REISSUE THIS ARTICLE

Submitted by City Staff on Fri, 10/16/2020 - 9:01 am

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Based on some comments about the article being misleading or confusing, we have updated the title and photograph notation. There have NOT been reports of fake drop boxes in Mission Viejo. This article was intended to provide residents with a reminder of the locations of the official ballot drop boxes in Mission Viejo (with a photo) and to advise them to only use those boxes.

Submitted by Penelope Peters on Sat, 10/17/2020 - 1:29 pm

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This is not about illegal ballot boxes, but does anyone know how to change a vote on the ballot? I made a serious error I wish to correct. I have emailed this question to several voting sites, still waiting for an answer. As a last resort, can I just fill in both the yes/no boxes to at least nullify my bad vote? Thanks for any help.

Submitted by Sonja Morales on Sun, 10/18/2020 - 4:13 pm

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Why have the polling places been changed this year? What are the drivers? Who or what committee decided on the locations?

Submitted by Richard Parker on Sun, 10/18/2020 - 4:46 pm

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Penelope Peters,

You can ask the Orange County Registrar of Voters to issue you a replacement ballot. Go to www.ocvote.com/vlt (verify your identity and then click on Ballot Replacement Options) or call (714) 567-7600 to request a replacement ballot. The deadline to have a replacement vote-by-mail ballot mailed to you is October 27, 2020. If you miss that deadline you can obtain an emergency ballot from the Orange County Registrar of Voter office at 1300 S. Grand Ave., Building C, Santa Ana, but this emergency ballot can not be mailed back via postal mail. The deadline to hand-deliver your ballot is election day, November 3, 2020.

Alternatively, you always have the option of going to a Vote Center (starting October 30 through election day, November 3), surrendering your vote-by-ballot, and then voting in person.

Submitted by City Staff on Sun, 10/18/2020 - 5:01 pm

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Regarding Ms. Peters question, we recommend you call (not email) the Orange County Registrar of Voters (ROV). That is the office that issued your ballot and they can advise you. You can request a replacement ballot and/or they can tell you how to fix the markings so your new vote will be accepted. You can also bring your ballot to a Vote Center between Oct. 30 and Nov. 3 and surrender it, then vote in person. Please call (714) 567-7600 during normal business hours (https://www.ocvote.com/about).

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