Voting Assistance for Seniors & Disabled

Jim McCauley, County Clerk - Recorder - Registrar of Voters

Elections Office
2956 Richardson Drive
PO Box 5278
Auburn, CA 95604

Phone: (530) 886-5650
E-mail: election@placer.ca.gov

An Election Guide for Senior Citizens and Voters with Disabilities

Voter Outreach Program

We consider our senior citizen and disabled population groups to be some of the most valuable in this county who exercise their right to vote. They keep up to date on political issues and have been faithful voters throughout the years. In order to keep their registrations current, we have implemented an outreach program for those senior or disabled citizens who have moved into senior residential homes and assisted care homes. Election officials, community leaders, and election staff assist these voters with completing voter registration cards and offer permanent vote by mail status as a voter. Election personnel can determine if the voter is registered at their current residence by looking at the registrations rolls. This innovative outreach program has been very successful and rewarding.

What is the law?

Three federal laws are of special importance to disabled and elderly voters - they are:

The Voting Rights Act of 1965

Any voter requiring assistance may receive it from a person of the voter's choice, other than the voter's employer or agent of that employer or officer or agent of the voter's union.

The Voting Accessibility for the Elderly and Handicapped Act of 1984

Promotes the fundamental right to vote by requiring "access for elderly and handicapped individuals to registration facilities and polling places in federal elections".

The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA)

Requires public entities to provide auxiliary aids and services where necessary to afford an individual with a disability an equal opportunity to participate in, and enjoy, the benefits of service, program, or activity conducted by a public entity.

What are our goals?

100% participation of eligible voters in all elections,

100% polling place accessibility, and options for all voters who seek independent and private voting.

In compliance with federal law and state law we provide services to voters with disabilities including:

  • Accessible polling places wherever possible
  • Wheelchair accessible voting booths
  • Large type voting instructions and magnifying devices at polling places
  • Voting pens with attachable grip adapter for voting ease
  • Cassette tapes with state and county ballot measures
  • Vote by mail and permanent vote by mail voting options
  • Poll worker assistance at any precinct polling place

Pre-Election Day Services

General Information

Information regarding voter registration and elections is available from the Placer County Clerk-Recorder-Elections Office. The office is located at 2956 Richardson Drive, Auburn, CA. Our mailing address is P.O. Box 5278, Auburn, CA. 95604. Citizens can contact our office for information by calling (530) 886-5650, or 1-800-824-8683, toll free. Information about our services can also be found on our website at www.placer.ca.gov/elections. The office is open 8:00a.m. to 5:00p.m., Monday through Friday, except holidays.

TDD Services for the Hearing Impaired

The California Secretary of State's Office provides a telecommunications device (TDD) to take calls from individuals with a hearing impairment. The TDD number for hearing impaired voters who would like registration or voting information is 1-800-833-8683.

Cassette Tape Recordings

Cassette tape recordings of the information printed in ballot pamphlets for state and county measures for primary and general elections are available to all voters. The tapes are available approximately six weeks before the election and may be obtained from the Placer County Clerk-Recorder-Elections Office by calling (530) 886-5669.

Early Voting Options

Any registered voter may apply for a vote by mail ballot. The sample ballot pamphlet contains the application for a Vote By Mail Ballot on the back cover. You can mail the form request to our office, or you can write or fax a letter to our office requesting the Vote By Mail Ballot. Our fax number is (530) 886-5688.

Permanent Vote by Mail Voting

Due to changes in the law effective January 1, 2002, any voter, including a voter with a specified disability, the voter's spouse, or the voter's primary care provider may apply for Permanent Vote By Mail Voter (PVBMV) status. The application to become a permanent vote by mail voter is part of the regular vote by mail voter's ballot application found on the back cover of the sample ballot pamphlet (see Early Voting Options above). Just check the box that asks if you want to become a permanent vote by mail voter and mail the form to our office. Once we receive your request we will send you your vote by mail ballot. If you fail to return your PVBMV ballot in any statewide Primary or General Election, state law requires the Elections Office to delete your name from the list of permanent vote by mail voters. If you wish to be reinstated as a PVBMV, you would need to reapply. Further information can be obtained by calling (530) 886-5664, or you may write to the Placer County Clerk-Recorder-Elections Office, P.O. Box 5278, Auburn, CA. 95604.

Emergency Vote by Mail Voter Ballots

If, in the seven days prior to the election you find that you will be unable to vote in person on election day due to illness or disability resulting from confinement to a hospital, nursing home, place of residence, or due to conditions resulting in your absence from your voting precinct on election day, you may still pick up a vote by mail ballot at our office in Auburn. You must make your request in writing, signed under penalty of perjury, and deliver it (or have it delivered by a person authorized by the voter) to the Placer County Clerk-Recorder-Elections Office located at 2956 Richardson Drive in Auburn. You may designate your spouse, child, parent, grandparent, grandchild, brother, sister, or a person residing in your household to return the ballot to the Elections Office or to any pollingplace within the county.

Neighborhood Precincts

California law specifies that the number of registered voters in each precinct shall not exceed 1,000 to ensure the continuation of the neighborhood voting policy advocated by the State legislature. This practice enables voters with disabilities to vote in familiar, comfortable, and secure surroundings.

Election Day Voting Services

Accessible Polling Places

The international symbol of access is used on every sample ballot pamphlet to inform the public about polling place accessibility for voters in wheelchairs. Presently 95% of Placer County polling places are accessible. If your polling location is not accessible, you may vote your ballot outside your polling place (see Curbside Voting Section below), OR at an accessible polling place location where your same ballot type is voted OR at the Placer County Elections Office office located at 2956 Richardson Drive in Auburn. To find the nearest accessible polling place that has the same ballot as your precinct or fordirections to the Elections Office office call (530) 886-5650 or toll free 1-800-824-8683.

Voters with Wheelchairs

Designated wheelchair accessible voting booths are available at every Placer County poll location.

Help Available for Casting Your Ballot

Under California law, any voter who needs help in casting a ballot is entitled to request assistance. A poll worker can provide assistance or the voter may select a person of his or her choice.

If for some reason you are unable to mark your ballot yourself, you can choose up to two people to help you cast your vote. The person(s) may not be your employer, your employer's agent, your labor union leader, or labor union agent.

Curbside Voting

Any voter who cannot reach the voting area at the polling place because of architectural barriers or physical limitations may request to vote "curbside" (outside of the polling location). A poll worker will qualify the voter, bring a ballot, special marking pen, and secrecy sleeve to the voter, assist the voter as necessary, and then place the voter's ballot in the ballot box.

Voters with Vision Impairments

Each polling place in the County displays voting instructions in large type. Magnifying devices are also available for voters who may have difficulty reading the ballot (See Cassette Tape Recording Section above).

Important Addresses and Telephone Numbers

General Election and Voter Imformation : (530) 886-5650
Toll-Free : 1-800-824-8683
Registration and Sample Ballot Information : (530) 886-5663
Vote by Mail Ballot Information : (530) 886-5664
TDD (Hearing Impaired) : 1-800-833-8683
Polling Place Accessibility : (530) 886-5672
Voter with Specific Needs : (530) 886-5669
Election Office Address: 2956 Richardson Drive Auburn, CA. 95603
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 5278, Auburn, CA. 95604
Website: www.placer.ca.gov/elections
E-mail: clerk@placer.ca.gov