Election year is here … a look at key 2012 dates

Advanced voting — where voters can cast their ballots at the county registrar’s office — will be offered 21 days prior to elections, instead of 45 days as in recent years. However, absentee ballots will be mailed out 45 days prior to elections. That means absentee ballots in the presidential preference primary will hit the mail Jan. 20. This year, the registrar’s office will also offer Saturday voting shortly before each election.

Here is a look at other key dates this year:

•Presidential preference primary/special elections: March 6 (advanced voting begins Feb. 13, with Saturday voting on Feb. 25). The voter registration deadline is Feb. 6.

•Special election runoff: April 3.

•General primary/non-partisan election: July 31 (advanced voting begins July 9, with Saturday voting on July 21). The voter registration deadline is July 2.

•General primary/non-partisan/special election runoff: Aug. 21.

•Special election: Sept. 18 (advanced voting begins Aug. 27, with Saturday voting Sept. 4). The voter registration deadline is Aug. 20.

•Special election runoff: Oct. 16.

•General election/special election: Nov. 6 (advanced voting begins Oct. 15, with Saturday voting set for Oct. 27).

•General election runoff: Dec 4.