Gavilan College will holds its commencement exercises, 6 p.m. today, in the Gavilan College gymnasium. Keynote speaker Luis Valdez and alumni speaker Ron Hannon will address the students and President Steven Kinsella will award Jay Baksa with an honorary degree.

Cherise Gowan, the 2007 Garlic Queen and Gavilan College alumnus, will sing the National Anthem. The college will award 441 degrees and certificates to the graduating class. The Teach for Tomorrow club will serve at student marshals, leading the graduates in the processional.

The Associated Student Body will host a reception directly after the ceremony in the Student Center for all of the graduates, staff and their guests.

Admission to graduation is invitation only due to limited seating.

Election volunteers needed

The Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters' Office needs more than 800 volunteers to serve as election officers in the June 3 election. This election will require staffing 765 polling places. While significant progress has been made in staffing them, more volunteers are needed to ensure they are all adequately staffed.

Election officers are critically needed throughout the county, especially the areas of Palo Alto/Stanford, San Jose, Santa Clara and Gilroy. There is also a need for Spanish bilingual election officers.

Anyone who is registered to vote in the state of California can become an election officer. Experience is not necessary as training is provided.

Election Officers are paid a stipend of $95 or more. They can earn an extra stipend for bilingual skills. Bilingual election officers must be fluent in English and Spanish, Vietnamese, Chinese or Tagalog.

High school students who would like to be involved in the election process can participate in the Student Election Officer Program. Students must be at least 16 years old with a minimum 2.5 grade point average, receive permission from their school and parents or guardians. Student election officers have the same responsibilities and receive the same stipends as other election officers.

City clerks accept ballots

The Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters is partnering with all 15 city clerk offices in the county to provide drop-off sites for Vote by Mail ballots in the June 3 election.

These drop-off sites will make it easy and convenient for voters to return their voted ballots on or before election day.

This is the first time that all 15 cities in the county are participating in this voter outreach effort. The Registrar's Office has implemented this effort in selected cities during previous elections. In South County, voters can drop off their ballots at 7351 Rosanna St., Gilroy and 17555 Peak Ave., Morgan Hill.

Ballots can also be returned by mail, in person at the Registrar of Voters' Office, or at any Santa Clara County polling place on election day. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. For convenience, there is also a white 24-hour ballot drop-off box located near the flag pole outside the Registrar's Office, 1555 Berger Drive, Building 2, San Jose.

All ballots must be received no later than 8 p.m. election day (postmarks not accepted). Voters must remember to sign the back of the return envelope so their ballot can be signature verified and tallied.

Details: Registrar of Voters' Office at: 866 430-VOTE (8683) or in Spanish at (408) 282-3095.