The 2016 presidential general election had the greatest number of registered voters casting a ballot in the history of San Diego County with 1,346,513 registered voters participating. Coinciding with this number was the highest number of individuals voting by mail with a record 856,937 ballots being returned and counted. To address this growing trend in mail ballots and high voter turnout the Registrar of Voters and the SDCL created a mail ballot drop-off partnership program.

Library branches are existing infrastructures suited for pickup and delivery of material; are deemed accessible; have ample parking; and the general public is familiar with them as trusted public spaces. In return, the program increased the likelihood for the public to visit the library. This partnership offered a new service to library customers, encouraged enhanced citizen participation in voting and promoted intergovernmental cooperation and coordination in addressing the problem of low voter turn out.

Libraries have a strong dedication to helping their communities to be civically engaged. The partnership between the Registrar of Voters and the San Diego County Library demonstrates the impact of government agencies meeting community needs and bringing services to customers at places they already frequent. Of those mail ballots returned through this program, nearly 96 percent (or 98,465) were made at libraries. Library branches also experienced an increase of approximately 15,000 people visiting on Election Day.