Your vote-by-mail ballot will be sent to your P.O. Box

Did you receive a postcard from the Monterey County Elections Office? You are still registered to vote. If you are already registered in Carmel-By-The-Sea, your vote-by-mail ballot will be sent to the P.O. Box on file, even if you have not updated your new street address before the November 3 election.

FAQ’s

I received a postcard from Monterey County Elections. Am I still registered to vote?

Yes. If you received this postcard notice from Monterey County, it is because you are registered to vote. The assignment of a new street address to your Carmel-By-The-Sea residence did not automatically cancel or change your voter registration.

Do I have to update my street address before the November 3 election?

If you are already registered to vote in Carmel, Monterey County Elections has confirmed that you do not need to make this particular street-address update before Election Day in order to receive your vote-by-mail ballot at your existing P.O. Box.

Will I still receive my vote-by-mail ballot if I haven’t updated my new street address yet?

Yes. Monterey County Elections has confirmed that currently registered Carmel-By-The-Sea voters will still receive their vote-by-mail ballots at the P.O. Box already listed as their mailing address, even if they have not yet updated their residential address.

Updating your new street address is not required before Election Day in order for your ballot to be mailed to you.

Why do I need to update my voter registration if my ballot goes to my P.O. Box?

Your voter registration has two different types of addresses:

Residence address: This identifies where you physically live and determines the districts and contests you are eligible to vote in.

Mailing address: This is where election materials are mailed.

Did the City assigning me a street address automatically update my voter registration?

No. The City’s assignment of a new street address did not automatically update the residential address in your voter registration record.

You will need to update your voter registration separately so Monterey County Elections has your new street address on file.

Do I still need to provide my P.O. Box?

Yes. When updating your registration, enter your new street address as your residence address and continue to enter your P.O. Box as your mailing address.

What if I have never registered to vote in Carmel?

If you are not currently registered, you should register using:

Residence address: Your new Carmel street address
Mailing address: Your P.O. Box

California’s regular voter-registration deadline for the November 3, 2026 election is October 19, 2026. California also offers Same Day Voter Registration after that deadline through Election Day.