Early voters can drop off vote by mail ballots at an official ballot drop box, like this one at Oakland's René C. Davidson Courthouse.

It’s easy. It’s convenient. These two reasons repeatedly cited by voters, county election officials, voter advocacy groups and other organizations may account for the growing number of Oakland residents planning to vote early this year, by mail, instead of going to the polls on Election Day. Jamie Israel, 26, a server who works late shifts…

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