Did you know that every eligible citizen registered to vote in Sacramento County receives their election materials through the United States Postal Service (USPS)? This includes ballots and—unless a voter has opted out—county and state voter information guides.
But what happens if the voter is no longer at the address listed in their voter registration file? In most cases, election materials cannot be forwarded by the USPS, and undeliverable mail is returned to Voter Registration & Elections (VRE).
Forward requested or undeliverable mail is returned by the USPS to the elections office with a “nixie” label. The word nixie comes from English slang for the German nichts ("nothing"), and "-ie", an item or a thing.
This nixie label shows the voter’s new or temporary address or informs VRE that the voter is no longer receiving mail at that location. Voters whose mail is returned to VRE have their voter registration updated with the information received from the USPS. This is one of the many ways that VRE maintains an accurate and up-to-date voter file.
Anytime a voter’s record is updated due to third party agency information—whether from the USPS or DMV—a postcard is sent to the voter to verify the update.
For more information on Voter File Maintenance, visit the VRE website.
If you have moved and need to update your voter registration, visit registertovote.ca.gov, call our office at 800-762-8019 to request a registration form, or visit any post office or library.