County Ballot Drop Box Sits Beside Library Book Return

An official Los Angeles County ballot drop box at a Santa Monica branch library has drawn questions from voters about possible mix-ups with a nearby book return.

Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Civic Engagement

Bold flat-color editorial illustration of a single plain ballot-box silhouette in a deep red field, with a paper rectangle poised above its slot. — Santa Monica voters are questioning whether an official Los Angeles County ballot drop box placed beside a library book return could cause ballots to be misdirected. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Live Poll

Do you trust local ballot drop boxes to make voting easy and error-free in your area?

An official Los Angeles County ballot drop box is placed on the curb next to a Santa Monica Public Library book return at the Montana Avenue Branch Library, 1704 Montana Ave. Some voters questioned whether ballots could end up in the wrong box, though the Daily Press could not confirm any such cases.

Why it matters

Ballot drop boxes are a key way voters submit their ballots ahead of Election Day, so confusion over which box is which could affect whether a ballot is counted. Residents who rely on this location should check the box carefully before dropping off their ballot.

The official drop box sits a few feet from a metal book return bin of similar size and shape, and a printed reminder sign is posted on the bin. County drop boxes are open 24 hours a day and close at 8 p.m. on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 3, though the Daily Press could not confirm any misplaced ballots.

The players

Los Angeles County

Los Angeles County is the largest county in the United States by population and operates the official ballot drop boxes and vote centers across its jurisdiction.

Santa Monica Public Library

The Santa Monica Public Library operates a network of branch libraries across the city, including the Montana Avenue Branch Library where the drop box is located.

The details

The ballot drop box is positioned on the curb at the Montana Avenue Branch Library, where a metal book return bin of similar size and shape stands nearby. A printed reminder sign on the book return is meant to help prevent confusion between the two.

County ballot drop boxes close at 8 p.m. on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026.

Civic Engagement Context

California's vote-by-mail framework requires counties to offer secure ballot drop-off sites, and the placement of individual boxes at public facilities like libraries is how that requirement reaches local voters. Questions about similar box placements tend to arise wherever counties site drop boxes near other public receptacles.

Voters who plan to use this drop box should confirm they are depositing ballots in the county box rather than the library book return, which sits right beside it. Drop boxes are open 24 hours a day until 8 p.m. on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 3.

The takeaway

Checking the label on a drop box before depositing a ballot is a simple step that helps ensure the ballot reaches the right place. Voters can find drop box and vote center locations through the Daily Press Election Central at smdp.com/election.