Elections Office To Launch SLO County Votemobile with Drive Up, Drop Off Ballot Collection Event
Author: Erin Clausen
Date: 10/20/2026 9:14 AM
The SLO County Elections Office has used state funding to acquire and deploy a Votemobile during this general election cycle. The vehicle, which will be driven to communities around the county, will serve as an official mobile ballot drop box -- offering another secure way for county residents to cast their vote.
SLO County Elections has a new tool in its tool box – or perhaps more accurately, it has a whole new tool box. On October 24, the Elections Office will roll out its brand-new Votemobile, which during the next two weeks will serve as a secure mobile ballot box that will host pop-up ballot collection events. The first event will be at the Arroyo Grande High School parking lot from 10am to 2pm this Saturday.
The vehicle, which was purchased with state funds specifically allocated for voter outreach and speeding up the ballot counting process for this general election, was approved by the Board of Supervisors on October 6. Elections staff worked with County Fleet Services and a local vendor to drive the project from idea to completion in less than a month.
“This money came to us later in the election cycle than was probably ideal, but it was a great opportunity to enhance our community outreach and voter services,” said Clerk-Recorder Elaina Cano. “We’ve talked about a Votemobile for a couple of years now, and this was an exciting way to meet the state’s goals and also create a long-term community resource.”
Cano pointed out that while her office is calling the vehicle a Votemobile, it has been specifically wrapped in graphics that reflect department branding and also highlight the vital records and marriage services that the Clerk-Recorder’s Office also provides. When there isn’t an active election, the office will deploy the vehicle to host pop-up vital records events and “destination marriage ceremonies” at County parks. Currently those services are only available at the office in downtown San Luis Obispo.
The event on Saturday is being organized by Elections staff with help from one of SLO County’s Student Election Ambassadors, AGHS student Noah Werner. The Student Election Ambassador Program (SEAP) trains local high school students in voter registration and voting logistics and tasks them with spearheading outreach projects within their campus and community. SEAP is a partnership between the Elections Office and the League of Women Voters.
On Saturday, October 24 at AGHS, voters will be able to drive up, park, and deposit their ballot directly into the ballot slot in the Votemobile. They can also choose to drive up and hand their ballot to a runner who will deposit it into the slot, allowing the voter to stay in their car if they wish.
SLO County offers drive-up ballot drop-off at select voting locations each election, but this is the first time it will be offered in advance of Election Day and away from a polling location.
“We’re really encouraging voters who are comfortable voting early to get it done and get their ballot to us as soon as they’re able,” said Cano. “Voting early allows us to process and count your ballot and include it in those first results released at 8pm on Election Night.”
The Elections Office has seen a high rate of early voting both by mail and drop box so far this cycle. They hope that offering this additional way to vote early will help those who can’t or don’t want to use the other options, and voters still have the choice to vote at their assigned polling location on Election Day. Ballots cast in person at a voter’s assigned polling place are also counted and reported out on Election Night.
Additional drive up, drop off events are planned at Cuesta College and a few other locations around the county between October 24 and November 3. Details will be listed on SloVote.gov as events are confirmed. If you have an idea for a pop-up ballot drop-off event in your community, you can share that with the Elections Office by emailing [email protected].
The Elections Office says that during 2027, it will work with County Fleet Services to add a pull-out canopy and customize the interior of the vehicle, adding staff work stations, a service window, wifi, battery back-up power, and storage for outreach materials, tables, and more.
