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Voters Displaced by the Wildfires

The Sonoma County Registrar of Voters wants to help voters who may have been impacted by the wildfires understand how to update Voter Registration. The residence address we have on file determines the contests for which you are eligible to vote. The mailing address we have on file determines where we mail voting materials, such as Voter Information Guides and, if registered to Vote by Mail, official ballots. Voters may be legally registered in only one county.

For questions – Call (707) 565-6800 or (800) 750-8683, email ROV-Wildfires@sonoma-county.org, or visit the Registrar of Voters at 435 Fiscal Drive in Santa Rosa.

See below for a variety of situations and appropriate actions to take regarding Voter Registration.

Displaced voters who intend to return to impacted address

For a displaced registered voter who has temporarily moved and intends to return to their impacted address, the impacted home address is still considered their residence of record. They may keep their residence address and notify the Registrar of Voters of their new mailing address.

Voters have the following choices to notify the Registrar of Voters of their new mailing address:

  • Call the Registrar of Voters at (707) 565-6800 or (800) 750-8683 to report new mailing address.
  • Send a note with printed name, new mailing address, and confirming the impacted residence address:
    • By mail – to the Registrar of Voters office at P.O. Box 11485 Santa Rosa, CA 95406-1485
    • By fax – to (707) 565-6843
    • By email – ROV-Wildfires@sonoma-county.org
  • Visit the Registrar of Voters at 435 Fiscal Drive, Santa Rosa to provide the new mailing address.

Displaced Voters who do not intend to return to impacted address

For a displaced registered voter who has decided not to return to their impacted address, it is appropriate for them to register with their new residence address and mailing address, if applicable.

Voters have the following choices to register with their new residence and mailing address:

  • Re-register at http://registertovote.ca.gov/
  • Contact the County in which they are residing to receive a paper registration in the mail to complete and return.
  • Pick up a paper registration form at the local Registrar of Voters, library, or post office, complete, and mail to the appropriate Registrar of Voters in the county.

Displaced voters who have not decided whether to return or to move permanently

A displaced registered voter who has not yet decided whether to return or to move away from their impacted address, permanently, may continue to utilize their impacted residence address until such time they determine they will not return to their impacted address. [Elections Code 2021 (b)]

Voters have the following choices to notify the Registrar of Voters of their new mailing address:

Displaced voters whose registration information may have already been changed (DMV/USPS)

Displaced registered voters who meet the following criteria may wish to verify their registration information at http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/cavoter

  • Voters who have changed their address through the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV)
  • Voters who have implemented changes of address with the US Post Office (USPS)
  • Voters who have been in contact with the Registrar of Voters to update/change their address

Convenient option for voting – Vote by Mail

Voters may choose to Vote by Mail so that they may receive their ballot by mail and return it by mail on or before Election Day. Voters may also choose to receive their ballot by mail and return their ballot in person to a polling place on Election Day. This option may be convenient for voters who will, temporarily, not be living near their precinct/polling place. Click here to apply for a Vote by Mail ballot – Vote by Mail Application. Voters may also indicate a preference for Vote by Mail when registering online or by paper form.

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