Earlier this month, the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk began mailing vote-by-mail ballots to all registered voters for the presidential general election on Nov. 3.

A ballot will be sent to every registered voter to ensure safe and accessible voting options during COVID-19.

Voters can track their ballot with Where’s My Ballot, an easy-to-use tracking tool that sends voters automatic notifications when their ballot has left the post office and provides an estimated time of arrival. For information, visit wheresmyballot.sos.ca.gov.

Voters are encouraged to safely participate in this election returning their mail-in ballot early. There are several safe return options available. Ballots can be returned by mail with no postage required as long as they are postmarked by election day. Ballots can also be dropped off at any vote-by-mail drop box any time before Nov. 3 or taken to any vote center between Oct. 24 and Nov. 3.

Voters can also visit the RR/CC headquarters at 12400 Imperial Hwy., Norwalk, to safely vote early in-person. All public health and safety guidelines will be followed, and voters will be required to wear a facial covering.

California Secretary of State Alex Padilla noted that in-person early voting is also allowed at every county election office.

“For the first time, every active, registered voter in California will have a vote-by-mail ballot in hand weeks before the election,” Padilla said. “This expansion of vote-by-mail will maintain the resiliency of our democracy during the COVID-19 pandemic. There is no safer way for voters to vote than from the comfort and safety of home. And with multiple layers of security – ballot watermarks, unique barcodes on each vote-by-mail ballot return envelope, required signature verification and ballot tracking – Californians can vote-by-mail with confidence.”

“Voters can return their ballots by mail or in-person to any drop box, elections office or voting location. Every person that votes early will help keep lines shorter and reduce wait times at in-person voting locations on Election Day,” Padilla added.

Voting-by-mail is already popular in California, Padilla said. For the past eight statewide elections in California, a majority of the votes cast were through vote-by-mail.

If someone is not sure of their registration status, they can visit voterstatus.sos.ca.gov.