Santa Clara County mails nearly 8,000 vote-by-mail ballots to military, overseas voters

Seal of California -- File Photo

The Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters has mailed nearly 8,000 ballots for the upcoming June 5 statewide primary election to military and overseas voters, county officials said.

Federal and state law mandates that ballots for voters who are on active military duty or living abroad be sent earlier than other mail-in ballots, according to Santa Clara County officials.

Military and overseas ballots are mailed between 60 and 45 days before an election, while local ballots are mailed starting 29 days before an election. The former ballots are mailed earlier to make sure military and overseas voters have time to get their ballots in, county officials said.

To be counted for the June 5 Statewide Direct Primary Election, vote-by-mail ballots must be postmarked on or before Election Day and received in the Registrar of Voters' office by June 8. This is the case for all mail-in ballots.

The last day to register to vote in the June 5 statewide primary election is May 21, county officials said. California residents can do so online.