Though the Nov. 4 general election is nearly a month away, those who want to get a jump on things can vote by mail as early as Monday.

And those who want to request a vote-by-mail ballot can do so online, by telephone, by mail or in person.

Picking up a vote-by-mail ballot in person means driving to the Solano County Registrar of Voters office, 675 Texas St., Suite 2600, Fairfield, open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Requests can be made by mail and sent to the office, online at www.solanocounty.com/depts/rov, by fax to 707-784-6678 or by calling elections technicians at 707-784-6675.

Those applying to vote by mail must include the individual voter’s name, residential address in Solano County, the place where the ballot is to be mailed if that is different from the residence, and the person’s signature.

Request forms also are available on the back of sample ballots, which can be completed and sent to the Registrar of Voters Office.

Vote-by-mail ballots can be delivered in person in Fairfield, but because City Clerk Lisa Wolfe is Benicia’s elections officer, Benicia City Hall also will have a locked box that residents can use to drop off their ballots at the front desk of the City Manager-City Clerk Office area at 250 East L St.

Wolfe also is distributing the California General Election official Voter Information Guide, written by Secretary of State Debra Bowen.

Prospective voters may register to vote in the Nov. 4 election through Oct. 20, and may do so at Wolfe’s office. They also may register at California Department of Motor Vehicle offices, Benicia Public Library and other libraries, or at Benicia Post Office and other post offices, as well as at the Registrar of Voters Office in Fairfield.

Those who wait until Oct. 20 may not receive sample ballots or other election information by mail, according to information provided by the Registrar of Voters.

For those unable to go in person, they may call Registrar of Voter election technicians, the Secretary of State’s Office, 800-345-VOTE (8683) or 888-933-8683 to request a registration form.

They also may request one online at the Registrar of Voters website.

Should a voter decide later they want to vote by mail, Benicia voters have until Oct. 28 to change to a mail-in ballot.

Voters must be citizens of the United States and residents of California and at least 18. They may register at 17 if they will be 18 by election day. They can’t be in prison or on parole on a felony conviction.

Those who have moved since the last election, or who have changed their name or political affiliation, need to register again in order to participate in the Nov. 4 election.

Voters who are in the military or who are overseas during the election, such as those who are enrolled in study programs or who work outside the country, also may vote by mail, but must request a ballot through the Federal Post Card Application or by registering online at registertovote.ca.gov.

The Federal Post Card applications are available at military bases, voting assistance offices, American embassies and consulates or through www.fvap.gov. Registered military voters may access their ballots online through www.calepromise.us.

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