The Sacramento County Department of Voter Registration and Elections has recently learned about online posts about the Statewide Special Election ballot and envelope. These posts claim that when folded and placed back in the return envelope, a voter’s ballot selection can be seen through the holes in the envelope.
To help address voter concerns, here are the key facts:
- There are at least eight ways to insert a ballot card into the return envelope, and only two of these might result in a bubble being visible through the hole. There is no way to determine how a voter voted through this small hole.
- Our ballot cards contain a single question printed on one side. Concerned voters can fold their ballot so the blank side faces outward before placing it in the envelope.
- The punched holes in our ballot envelopes, introduced in 2008, are a best practice in most California counties. They serve as a tactile guide for visually impaired voters to locate the signature area and allow VRE staff to verify that all ballot cards have been removed from returned envelopes.
For a foolproof guide on folding your ballot to insert into your return envelope, check out our quick how-to video.
If you plan on voting by mail or ballot drop box and want to track your ballot, use the Sacramento County My Voter Portal or be sure to sign up for BallotTrax!
For more information, contact VRE at (916) 875-6451 or email voterinfo@saccounty.gov. You may also call our toll-free voter assistance hotline at (800) 762-8019. The hotline has the ability to connect voters with disabilities with TTY (Text Telephone).