With Election Day coming on Nov. 3 and seemingly constant changes to state election processes due to politics and the pandemic, San Diego County officials are urging voters to take advantage of mail-in voting.

“We encourage voters to act early and make voting decisions from the comfort and safety of their home,” said Registrar of Voters Michael Vu to KPBS. “The sooner we receive your ballot, the sooner we can start processing it so it will be counted right when the polls close at 8 p.m. on Nov. 3.”

The first round of vote-by-mail ballots went out Monday. Everyone registered to vote in California will receive a ballot in their mailbox.

Are you registered to vote? Register by Oct. 19.

Need to check your voter registration? Visit registertovote.ca.gov

Make sure to complete your ballot carefully and put it in the envelope provided.

 You then have three options to send it in.

• You can mail it in. Mail-in ballots must be signed and postmarked on or before Nov. 3. For the first time, you can also track your vote as it makes its way to be counted. Visit sdvote.com and sign up for “Where’s My Ballot?”

• You can drop it off in person before Election Day. You can take it to one of 126 drop-off locations in the county. They include libraries, post offices and county offices. Those opened on October 6. You can also drop your ballot at your polling place, which is open on Oct. 31 through Nov. 3.

• You can take it to your polling place on Election Day. You can drop your sealed ballot off at your polling place or surrender it to vote in person. There will be fewer polling places than in years past, so confirm your polling place before leaving.

If you decide to vote in person, county officials are warning lines could be long.

Voters are asked to be safe, bring a face mask and plan to maintain social distance.

The polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.