County will not install permanent ballot drop box at Guadalupe City Hall, officials say

Guadalupe City officials told the council on March 10 that the county will not install a permanent ballot drop box at City Hall and instead plans to place a temporary box inside the hall during election periods and remove it afterward.

Interim City Administrator David said the county notified city staff that it will not pay to install a permanent box at City Hall and intends to put one in the hall area for the duration of election windows. "They said they didn't have enough staffing," David said, according to council meeting remarks.

Council members raised concerns about how the temporary schedule would affect working voters. Council member Hernandez warned that a drop box accessible only during typical work hours would create a barrier for residents who finish work after 4 p.m. and asked staff to press the county for more voter-friendly hours. A councilor who spoke in the discussion said they had previously dropped off ballots as late as 8 p.m. when a permanent box was available outside the city administration office.

City staff agreed to pursue follow-up with county elections officials and explore advocacy to restore a more accessible drop-box arrangement. David said maintenance staffing hours and building access would shape the city's ability to host an on-site drop-off for extended hours.

Next steps: staff will reach out to county elections and report back to council with options, including requesting extended in-person drop-off hours or alternate locations to improve access for working families.