A ballot box that currently sits in front of Ripon City Hall could soon be a permanent fixture.

On Tuesday, the Ripon City Council was expected to enter into a License Agreement with the San Joaquin County Registrar of Voters for the installation of the permanent drop box.

For the past six years, the City of Ripon has featured the ballot drop box but only during elections, and inside of city hall.

“There were certain security regulations that we had to comply with in order to have this ballot box,” said City Clerk & Finance Director Lisa Roos in her staff report.

She added: “The Registrar of Voters office picked up the ballots regularly during the voting period and participation by voters was high.”

Meanwhile, an outdoor ballot box was recently installed between the Ripon Police Department and City, and, according to Loos, will remain there until the March 5 Presidential Primary Election.

However, if elected leaders opt to OK the License Agreement along with the installation of the permanent box, the temporary box would then be bolted down in its current location, Roos noted.

All cost to install and maintain of the ballot box would be paid via the SJC Registrar of Voters office.

The San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors recently voted to approve the purchase of these large, permanent ballot boxes, weighing in at about 1,000 pounds and constructed of steel – once installed, the ballot boxes can be securely bolted at their designated locations.

Each state-of-the-art ballot drop box, in addition, features a fortified locking mechanism, augmented with a tamper seal coupled with 24-hour surveillance “so that registered voters are able to conveniently and securely cast their vote no matter where they live in the county,” Roos pointed out.

A ballot box that currently sits in front of Ripon City Hall could soon be a permanent fixture.

On Tuesday, the Ripon City Council was expected to enter into a License Agreement with the San Joaquin County Registrar of Voters for the installation of the permanent drop box.

For the past six years, the City of Ripon has featured the ballot drop box but only during elections, and inside of city hall.

“There were certain security regulations that we had to comply with in order to have this ballot box,” said City Clerk & Finance Director Lisa Roos in her staff report.

She added: “The Registrar of Voters office picked up the ballots regularly during the voting period and participation by voters was high.”

Meanwhile, an outdoor ballot box was recently installed between the Ripon Police Department and City, and, according to Loos, will remain there until the March 5 Presidential Primary Election.

However, if elected leaders opt to OK the License Agreement along with the installation of the permanent box, the temporary box would then be bolted down in its current location, Roos noted.

All cost to install and maintain of the ballot box would be paid via the SJC Registrar of Voters office.

The San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors recently voted to approve the purchase of these large, permanent ballot boxes, weighing in at about 1,000 pounds and constructed of steel – once installed, the ballot boxes can be securely bolted at their designated locations.

Each state-of-the-art ballot drop box, in addition, features a fortified locking mechanism, augmented with a tamper seal coupled with 24-hour surveillance “so that registered voters are able to conveniently and securely cast their vote no matter where they live in the county,” Roos pointed out.