Apply for a Remote Accessible Vote by Mail Ballot

Frequently Asked Questions: Remote Accessible Vote by Mail

1. Who is eligible to use the Remote Accessible Vote by Mail (RAVBM) system?

Any registered Placer County voter is eligible for the Remote Accessible Vote by Mail system. The voter must have internet access and a printer to mark, print, and return their ballot for counting. To apply for a Remote Accessible Vote by Mail ballot, use the application linked above in the gray box.

To register to vote, please go to https://registertovote.ca.gov/.

2. Which web browsers and screen readers can I use with the RAVBM system?

The RAVBM system will work on any operating system and is compatible with any screen reader on the market. The major browsers it has been tested with are Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Opera, and Safari.

3. When will the RAVBM system be available?

Ballots are available through this system beginning 29 days before the election and ending at 8:00 PM on Election Day.

4. Will I still receive my vote-by-mail ballot packet in the mail if I use RAVBM?

Yes, all voters will receive a vote-by-mail ballot packet in the mail that includes a paper ballot, a postage-paid return envelope, and voting instructions. Applying for RAVBM does not affect this.

5. How do I access my ballot through the RAVBM system?

Beginning 29 days before the election, RAVBM voters will receive an email with detailed instructions and a link to their ballot materials. Once at the RAVBM website, you will need to affirm your eligibility and input your information to access your ballot.

6. How do I return my ballot?

Vote your ballot by using the online marking tool. Once you have verified your selections, print your voted ballot and the Identification Envelope Wrap-Around Image. Please note, you may need to adjust the printing size of the image to correspond with the size of your return envelope.

1. Place your voted ballot in a regular mailing envelope and seal. (You will need to provide your own standard-sized return envelope.)
2. Complete and sign the printed Identification Envelope Wrap-Around Image. Without your original signature your ballot cannot be counted. Fold the image in half and affix it to the outside of your return envelope so that all necessary mailing information is properly aligned on both sides of the envelope. This will ensure you are able to return the ballot in a timely manner without incurring postage.
3. If you are a military or overseas voter using the fax return option, you are provided an Oath of Voter statement instead of an envelope image. You must sign this statement and fax it with your ballot or your ballot cannot be counted.

a. The Oath of Voter states: “I acknowledge that by returning my voted ballot by facsimile transmission I have waived my right to have my ballot kept secret. Nevertheless, I understand that, as with any vote-by-mail voter, my signature, whether on this oath of voter form or my identification envelope, will be permanently separated from my voted ballot to maintain its secrecy at the outset of the tabulation process and thereafter.”

4. Choose one of these return options:

a. Mail the signed return envelope with your ballot inside to our office for processing. It must be postmarked on or before Election Day and received by the Placer County Elections Office no later than 7 days after Election Day.
b. Bring the envelope to one of the following locations on or before Election Day:

• Any vote center or polling place in California. View a list of Placer County vote center locations and times here.
• Any ballot drop box location in California. View a list of Placer County drop box locations and times here.
• The Placer County Elections Office, located at 3715 Atherton Road, Rocklin, CA 95765.

7. When is the deadline to return the ballot?

All RAVBM ballots returned by mail must be postmarked on or before Election Day and received within seven days of the election to be considered timely. All RAVBM ballots submitted in person must be delivered before 8:00 PM on Election Day, or they cannot be counted. Completed voting packets must include both the voted ballot and a signed Oath of Voter statement.

8. How will the Elections Office process my ballot?

Once the Elections Office receives your RAVBM ballot, the signature on the return envelope will be compared to the signature on your voter record, and if necessary, any signatures used on previous voter registration affidavits. After signature verification, to preserve the secrecy of the votes, the Elections Office will remove and separate the ballot from the return envelope that has your name, address, and signature. Once extracted, the ballot moves forward in the counting process. The entire process is open to public observation for transparency.

9. Is the RAVBM system secure?

Yes. The RAVBM system provided by the Elections Office has been certified by the California Secretary of State for use in California. To ensure the privacy of voters’ selections, the RAVBM system does not store or transmit voters’ selections over the internet. Although the RAVBM system allows voters to access and mark their ballots using any computer and their own assistive devices, the system does not allow electronic voting.

10. What if I have questions or need help?

If you have questions about the Remote Accessible Vote by Mail (RAVBM) system, please contact the Elections Office. Our office is open and available for calls Monday through Friday, 8 AM through 5 PM.

• Phone: 530-886-5650 (toll-free at 1-800-824-8683)




• TTY/Voice Communication: 1-800-877-8339




• Email: [email protected]




• In person: 3715 Atherton Road, Rocklin, CA 95765