Vote In Person In Berkeley: Vote Centers Now Open

BERKELEY, CA — Voting in the November Presidential Election may look a little different this year, with many ballots already cast by mail. But you can still cast or hand off your ballot in person this year — and you can do it Monday or on Election Day.

Dubbed “vote centers” rather than “polling places,” physical voting locations will also be a bit different than in years past.

The amount of in-person polling places in California will be limited compared to previous elections, in accordance with a law signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom in August, but some vote centers already opened up as early as Oct. 24.

Centers will be open Monday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day.

Although every registered and active voter in California was already mailed a ballot in October, polling places will still be open for same day voter registration, for those who need assistance with language or disabilities — or for those who simply want to witness the historic election day unfold.

In Berkeley, there are 9 vote centers.

• BERKELEY HIGH SCHOOL, GYM, 1980 ALLSTON WAY, BERKELEY, CA 94704
• CITY OF BERKELEY PRIVATE BUILDING, 1011 UNIVERSITY AVE., BERKELEY, CA 94710
• ED ROBERT CAMPUS, 3075 ADELINE ST., BERKELEY, CA 94703
• EPWORTH UNITED METHODIST CHURCH, 1953 HOPKINS ST., BERKELEY, CA 94707
• LAWRENCE HALL OF SCIENCE, 1 CENTENNIAL DR., BERKELEY, CA 94720
• LONGFELLOW SCHOOL, GYM, 1500 DERBY ST., BERKELEY, CA 94703
• M L KING STUDENT UNION, 3RD FL, PAULEY, 2455 BANCROFT WAY, BERKELEY, CA 94704
• NORTHBRAE COMMUNITY CHURCH PARLOR, 941 THE ALAMEDA, BERKELEY, CA 94707
• WILLARD MIDDLE SCHOOL, 2425 STUART ST., BERKELEY, CA 94705

There are also drop boxes available throughout the Berkeley.

>> Berkeley, Alameda County Ballot Drop Box Locations, Nov. 2020

All of these changes to voting in California this year are to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. Vote center volunteers and employees are required to space voting booths apart, sanitize surfaces and encourage those waiting in line to socially distance.

Voters are encouraged to arrive with a face covering, but those who show up without will be provided one.

Some of the first vote centers opened in California Oct. 21; in Los Angeles, hundreds lined up outside the Staples Center waiting to vote in person.

In California, more than 21 million ballots were mailed to voters, and more than 10 million ballots have already been cast in the state in this historic election.

— Written by Patch editor Kat Schuster with additional reporting by Bea Karnes