(Ventura) – Ventura County Clerk-Recorder and Registrar of Voters Michelle Ascencion announced today the official certification of the November 5, 2024 Presidential General Election. A total of 394,197 ballots were cast in the general election; with 84.17% of the voters utilizing their vote-by-mail ballot and 15.83% voting in person. Ventura County had a 76.25% overall voter turnout for this election.

The November 2024 General Election marks Ventura County’s fourth election conducted under the Voter’s Choice Act (VCA) election model. It also marks a significant increase in the number of voters taking advantage of the expanded voting opportunities provided under the VCA.

A hallmark of the VCA is the convenience of early voting in vote centers. The Elections Division opened for in-person voting 29 days before Election Day to coincide with the distribution of vote-by-mail ballots. Under the VCA model, ten additional vote centers opened countywide on October 26 for 10 days of early voting and 41 more opened on November 2. Ventura County residents were able to utilize any vote center location on any day to vote, update their registration, or receive other voter assistance.

“In our first three VCA elections, vote center traffic was always very slow for the first week,” Registrar Ascencion said. “That was definitely not the case for this election. On October 26, the first day we opened, nearly 1,400 people came to vote in person, quite a change from the norm.”

The momentum continued with increased numbers of voters taking advantage of in-person early voting throughout the County. Election Day also saw record numbers at the vote centers.

“We did see a last-minute Election Day surge that broke the record from the 2022 General Election by more than 12,000 voters. This led to some vote centers experiencing long lines but for the most part our voters were patient and understanding about the process, which makes it a much more positive experience for everyone,” Ascencion said. “Our election workers did an outstanding job assisting every voter.”

Although the in-person voting rate increased in this election, the majority of voters continue to prefer the convenience of utilizing their vote by mail ballot, with more mail ballots being returned via official ballot drop box than postal mail by a two-to-one ratio. Completed mail ballots can also be dropped off at any vote center or delivered to the Elections Office at the Government Center.

“Whatever method people used to vote, we thank the community for participating and for its support through this process. We especially appreciate every one of the hundreds of short-term election workers who helped us conduct the election; we couldn’t do it without them,” said Ascencion.

To view the certified final results visit the County Elections website at VenturaVote.org.

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The Ventura County Clerk-Recorder & Registrar of Voters is committed to “Preserving history and protecting democracy for the people of Ventura County, past, present, and future.” More information about the agency’s services is available 24/7 at www.VCClerkRecorder.org.