PLACER COUNTY ” Placer County election officials are reassuring voters nervous about the swine flu that they have the option to vote by mail if they wish to limit their visits to public places.

Although there are no confirmed cases of swine flu in Placer County, some voters are concerned about the possibility of contracting this strain of the flu, the county reports.

According to Jim McCauley, the Placer County Registrar of Voters:

– Requests for vote-by-mail ballots need to be received by the Placer County Elections Division by 5 p.m. on May 12, 2009. Voters may use the request on the back of their sample ballot pamphlets or the vote-by-mail ballot request form on the Placer County Elections Division website, http://www.placer.ca.gov/elections. Voters may also write their own request that includes their name, residence address, mailing address (if different), and the date of the election. These requests need to be signed and dated. Requests may be returned by mail to Placer County Elections, P.O. Box 5278, Auburn CA 95603 or by fax to (530) 886-5688.

– Vote-by-mail ballots may also be issued over the counter at the Placer County Elections Division now through Election Day, May 19. The Elections Division will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on election day, May 19, 2009. The Elections Division will also be open the two weekends prior to the election from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., on Saturday, May 9, 2009, and Sunday, May 10, 2009 and; Saturday, May 16, 2009 and Sunday, May 17, 2009.