No polling location information is available on a county search.
Fill out a voter registration form to vote in the March 3, 2020 Primary Election by Tuesday, February 18, 2020.
NEW: Even if you missed the deadline, you can still register and vote up to and through Election Day. Check here to see how!
You are eligible to vote if you are a U.S. citizen, 18 years or older, no longer in prison or on parole for a felony conviction, and have not been found by a court to be mentally incompetent
You must register to get on the official list of voters in your county. The deadline to register is Tuesday, February 18, 2020.
For more information, check Can I Register To Vote?
Find your polling place and ballot.
Watch How to Return Your Completed Vote-by-Mail Ballot.
Check Ways to Vote for more information.
There are big changes as to how you cast your ballot if you live in one of these 15 counties: Amador, Butte, Calaveras, El Dorado, Fresno, Los Angeles, Madera, Mariposa, Napa, Nevada, Orange, Sacramento, San Mateo, Santa Clara, and Tuolumne. You will have more days and more ways to vote! Check Ways to Vote for more information.
Visit the Easy Voter Guide for more voting information and to download a copy in English, Spanish, Chinese, Vietnamese, or Korean.
To register to vote in California, you must be:
For more information on the rights of people who have been incarcerated, check Rights of people with criminal convictions or visit Voting Rights for Californians with Criminal Convictions or Detained.
On the web at registertovote.ca.gov
By calling 800.345.VOTE (800.345.8683) and asking to have a voter registration form sent to your home.
By picking up an official registration postcard form from your county elections office, any DMV office, or a public library, post office, public assistance office, or any government office that serves the disabled.
Fill out a voter registration form no later than Tuesday, February 18, 2020 for the Tuesday, March 3, 2020 Primary Election.
It is important that your voter registration application be filled out completely and:
Even if you missed the voter registration deadline, it isn't too late to vote. With Same-Day Voter Registration, you can register up to and on Election Day.
Even if you missed the voter registration deadline, it isn't too late to vote. To register up to and on Election Day, go to your polling location, vote center, or elections office, and complete three simple steps:
You can do this at any polling location in your county, but if you go to the place that you're assigned, then they will be sure to have the ballot with all of your assigned contests.
This is called Conditional Voter Registration (CVR) or Same-Day Registration. Your vote will be counted after elections officials verify your voter registration and confirm that you have not already voted in this election.
Check here to find locations where you can register and vote at the same time--all the way up through Election Day!
After the election, check the Secretary of State's website or call 800-345-VOTE (8683) to learn how to see whether your ballot was counted. If it wasn't counted, you'll also be able to see the reason why.
If time permits, your county elections official will contact you when your voter registration application is approved, or if more information is needed to confirm your eligibility.
You can check with your county elections office to make sure you’re registered. Check the status of your voter registration.
The California Secretary of State's online voter registration application is available in:
Español Spanish
中文 Chinese
हिन्दी Hindi
日本語 Japanese
ខ្មែរ Khmer
한국어 Korean
Tagalog
ภาษาไทย Thai
Tiếng Việt Vietnamese
If sharing your address could put you in a life-threatening situation then you may qualify for the Safe At Home confidential address program.
Please do not apply to register to vote using the Secretary of State’s online registration site. Contact the Safe At Home program toll-free at (877) 322-5227 or by using the Safe At Home email.
When you register you can choose to have vote-by-mail ballots (“absentee” ballots) automatically sent to you for every election.
If you are already registered, you may also contact your county elections office to change your status to be a permanent vote-by-mail voter.
For more information, check How do I vote by mail?
You must re-register if you:
You have a choice.
For more information, check How California Primary Elections Work: The Top-Two System.
Register to vote either using California’s online voter registration or by filling out the Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) if you are a U.S. citizen who is:
For more information on using or obtaining an FPCA, visit the California Secretary of State or this federal site.
Be sure to fill out and submit the online voter registration or FPCA as early as 60 to 90 days before an election. This will allow time for voter information and ballots to be sent to you and for you to return your ballot. The absolute deadline for your registration form to be submitted online, postmarked, or delivered in person to the county elections office is 15 days before an election.
When you register to vote you will have the option to choose to have your ballot sent to you by mail, fax, or email.
You will receive a permanent vote by mail status, but each time you move you must fill out either a new online California voter registration form or FPCA.
For information on voting, check How do I vote if I am military, overseas, or I live abroad?
As a Californian living away from home while attending a college, trade school or technical school, you may choose to register to vote using either the home away from home address you use while at school, or your traditional home address.
Choosing which address to use when you register to vote is a personal decision. Whatever you decide, you may not register to vote in two places during the same election cycle.
Yes, you can register if you are homeless if:
If you live in one of these Voter’s Choice Act counties, there are big changes as to how you vote. Amador, Calaveras, Butte, El Dorado, Fresno, Los Angeles, Madera, Mariposa, Napa, Nevada, Orange, Sacramento, San Mateo, Santa Clara, or Tuolumne.
Voters in Los Angeles County will not receive your ballot in the mail unless you request one from your County Elections Office.
Find your Vote Center or Ballot Drop Box location here!
In order to receive a ballot in the mail, you must register by the deadline, which is 15 days before an election. The registration deadline for the Tuesday, March 3, primary election is Tuesday, February 18.
Missed the deadline? You can still register and vote at a Vote Center, all the way up to and including Election Day. For more information on same-day voter registration, check Missed the voter registration deadline? You can still register and vote!
For more information on election changes, check Voter’s Choice Elections and the California Secretary of State.
Note: If you live in one of the new Voter’s Choice Act counties and you are already registered to vote, you will automatically receive your ballot in the mail - unless you are in Los Angeles where you still need to sign up to get a vote by mail ballot. Check Voter’s Choice Elections for more info.
Request a vote-by-mail ballot from your County Elections Office.
Make sure that you send in your request so that it’s received by your county elections office no later than Tuesday, February 25, 2020.
Make future voting easier and apply through your County Elections Office to become a permanent vote-by-mail voter.
Follow the directions to fill out your ballot and envelope.
Return the ballot:
You can assign anyone to drop off your vote-by-mail ballot at a voting location on Election Day. Fill in the information on the return envelope.
If you mail your ballot back, don’t delay.
Follow the instructions carefully and sign the envelope
Return the ballot:
If you mail your ballot back, don’t delay.
Your completed vote-by-mail ballot must be postmarked on or before Election Day
Once mailed and postmarked, the ballot must be received by the elections office no later than 3 days after Election Day.
You may be able to vote in person either at your County Elections Office or at another early voting location before Election Day. Some early voting locations are also open through Election Day. Check with your county for details.
Click here for a complete list of early voting and ballot drop-off locations in your county.
How do I vote at the polling place or vote center in person?
Polling places are open from 7 AM to 8 PM on Election Day, Tuesday, March 3, 2020.
Vote Centers in the 15 Voter’s Choice Act counties are open before Election Day and will also be open from 7 AM to 8 PM on Election Day.
How do I find my polling place?
What are the basic steps for voting in person?
Go to the registration table. Say your name and address and sign the list of voters. A poll worker will give you a ballot.
For paper ballots
For touchscreen voting machines
Not all California counties use the same type of touchscreen voting machines.
If you live in one of these Voter’s Choice Act counties, there are big changes as to how you vote. Amador, Calaveras, Butte, El Dorado, Fresno, Los Angeles, Madera, Mariposa, Napa, Nevada, Orange, Sacramento, San Mateo, Santa Clara, or Tuolumne.
If you are registered to vote in any of these counties except Los Angeles County, you will automatically receive a ballot in the mail a few weeks before the election. Voters in Los Angeles County will not receive your ballot in the mail unless you request one from your County Elections Office. Most neighborhood polling places will no longer be used for voting. Instead, you will have three choices for how to vote.
You can fill out and mail in your ballot as soon as you receive it. No postage is required to vote by mail.
You can drop off your ballot at any secure Ballot Drop Box as soon as you receive it. No postage is required at Ballot Drop Boxes.
You can vote in person by visiting any Vote Center in your county. At every Vote Center, you can:
All Vote Centers will be open for at least 4 days before Election Day. For the March 3 Primary, this means all Vote Centers will be open from Saturday, February 29, through Tuesday, March 3.
Some Vote Centers will be open for 11 days before Election Day. For the March 3 Primary, some Vote Centers will open starting Saturday, February 22.
Find a Ballot Drop Box location or Vote Center.
Learn more about the Voter's Choice Act.
Vote Centers will accommodate voters with limited English proficiency. Vote Centers will also have well-trained staff at every location prepared to support voters with translated voting materials in languages required by law. To the greatest extent possible, counties will aim to have multilingual staff and volunteers available to help voters at Vote Centers.
All Vote Centers will be accessible to people with disabilities. Counties participating in this program are also required to create a Voting Accessibility Advisory Committee (VAAC) if they do not have one already. A VAAC is made up of voters with disabilities and helps during the planning process to ensure voting is accessible. Please contact your county elections office to learn more about the specific tools and resources available to people with disabilities.
Voters with disabilities may request a remote accessible vote-by-mail ballot. You can use this ballot at home with your own computer and assistive technologies, then print the ballot and mail or drop it off.
The Voter’s Choice Act is designed to make voting more convenient and accessible.
To register to vote, you will need to provide your California driver’s license or ID card number or the last four digits of your Social Security number.
Most of the time, on Election Day you are not required to show identification at the polling place unless:
If your name is not on the list of registered voters at your polling place you have the right to cast a provisional ballot. For more information check What is a provisional ballot?
A provisional ballot is a regular ballot that is put inside of a provisional envelope.
Who must vote a provisional ballot?
Voters who:
For a more extensive list of people who must vote with a provisional ballot, check the California Secretary of State.
Are all provisional ballots counted?
If voters are eligible to vote and vote provisionally, their ballots will be counted.
What if I go to the wrong polling place and have to vote a provisional ballot, will my ballot still be counted?
Firstly, you must always vote in the county where you are registered to vote.
If you're in the right county but the wrong polling place, then all of the candidates and measures that are on the ballot you were supposed to vote on, if you had gone to the correct location, will be counted.
But any contests and measures that are not also on the ballot at your correct polling place will not be counted.
How are provisional ballots handled?
Can I check the status of my provisional ballot?
You may contact your county elections office to learn whether your provisional ballot was counted and if it was not counted, the reason why.
I damaged, lost, or marked my ballot incorrectly. What do I do to fix this?
The process to correct a voting mistake is a little different if you live in a Voter’s Choice county (Amador, Butte, Calaveras, El Dorado, Fresno, Los Angeles, Madera, Mariposa, Napa, Nevada, Orange, Sacramento, San Mateo, Santa Clara, and Tuolumne). As long as you haven’t already voted, you can get a regular ballot at a Vote Center without turning in your vote-by-mail ballot.
If you moved on or before the registration deadline, which is 15 days prior to the election, then you should re-register at your new address. Check How do I register to vote?
NEW Now all Californians can Same-Day Register (or re-register) and vote with a provisional ballot at every voting location in your county. Read more about what you can do if you missed the deadline to register to vote.
I moved within the same county:
I moved to a new county:
For information on registering check How do I register if I am military, overseas, or live abroad?
Receive and complete your ballot:
When you registered to vote using California’s online voter registration or a Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) you had the option to receive your ballot by mail, fax or email. In some counties you may be allowed to download a ballot. Check the county list to see if downloading is possible.
Return your ballot:
By mail:
By fax if you are living outside the territorial US:
While you may request your ballot by email or download it, you may not return your completed ballot by email.
Visit the California Secretary of State for more information.
Under California law, if you live in a precinct with 250 or fewer registered voters, then you may receive vote-by-mail ballots and not have the option to vote in person at the polls on Election Day.
Check How do I vote by mail? for directions.
Disability Rights California (DRC) will operate a toll-free hotline on Election Day for voters with disabilities. The service is designed to help those who have difficulty accessing polling places, casting ballots or simply have questions about voting. The toll-free number for voice calls is 888-569-7955. The statewide number for video calls is 800-719-5798.
Watch the Center for Independence's video on Why You Should Vote.
Accessible information
The state Official Voter Information Guide that is mailed to each registered voter is available in a downloadable MP3 audio version, audio cassettes, in American Sign Language, and in large print. You may call (800) 345-8683 to request these versions.
The California Secretary of State also maintains a Voter Hotline for voters who are deaf, hard of hearing, or speech-impaired at: (800) 833-8683 - TTY/TDD
Accessible voting places
Before each election, registered voters are notified as to whether or not their polling places are accessible. This notification appears on the Voter Information Guide mailed by your county.
Signing in at the polling place
You can vote even if you can't sign your name!
Accessible voting machines
Each polling place must have one voting machine that allows voters, including those who are blind or visually impaired, to cast a ballot without assistance.
The voting machine permits voters to privately and independently verify vote choices and, if there is an error, allows them to correct those choices before submitting their final ballot.
Voting Assistance
You may choose up to two people to help in the polling place. However, the person who provides assistance may not be:
Curbside voting
Poll workers must provide curbside voting for voters with disabilities who need this assistance. Parking for curbside voting will be provided as close as possible to the voting area.
A poll worker will bring the list to sign, the ballot, and other required materials to the voter’s car. The poll worker will take everything back into the polling place and put the ballot in the ballot box or scanner.
For more information check Rights of voters with disabilities.
Remote accessible vote-by-mail
Remote accessible vote-by-mail (RAVBM) systems provide an accessible option for voters with disabilities to receive their ballots at home and mark them independently and privately before sending them back to elections officials. Contact your County Elections Office for more information.
Disability Rights California has a great video with information on remote accessible vote-by-mail, a new way for people with disabilities to vote from home.
Accessible Voting Places
An accessible ballot marking device is available at every polling place and has features to assist voters in reading and marking a ballot independently.
At polling places, poll workers will assist a voter as requested and can facilitate curbside voting.
If you have questions or need assistance, email eo.recruitment@vote.cccounty.us or call (925) 335-7800.
The Secretary of State's office provides voting-related materials and assistance in nine languages other than English.
For answers to your questions about voting and elections, or to request mail delivery of a voter registration form, vote-by-mail application, or the Official Voter Information Guide in any of these languages, please call one of the toll-free Voter Hotlines shown below.
For more information on in-language voting resources visit the California Secretary of State and read this handy Language Assistance Fact Sheet.
To find out what languages are available in your county, contact your county elections office. The information is often listed on the county's web site and may also appear on the county voter guide you receive in the mail.
For more information check Rights of voters to language assistance.
Contra Costa Información en Español
In compliance with federal law and local ordinance, the Contra Costa Election Division offers all election materials (voter registration forms, ballots, instructions, information pamphlets, website information) in English, Español/Spanish, and 中文/Chinese. Language tools are available at polling places in Hindi, Korean, Laotian, Nepali, Panjabi, Tagalog, Tamil, Telugu, and Vietnamese to help voters understand and mark their ballot.
The Election Division has multilingual staff at its office and polling places to assist voters who speak a language other than English.
For further assistance email eo.recruitment@vote.cccounty.us or call (925) 335-7800.
If it is six or fewer days before Election Day, you may be able to get an emergency vote-by-mail ballot.
Situations where emergency ballots are available:
You can make a written request for this ballot if you:
How do I make the emergency request?
Make a written request. Your county elections office might have a pre-printed form for you to use.
Or, if you are able, you can go to your county elections office during open hours and vote early in person.
For more information and sample requests, visit Disability Rights California.
Ranked choice voting allows voters to election a 1st, 2nd, and 3rd choice candidate for a single office. This makes it possible to elect local officials by majority vote without the need for a second run-off election.
How ranked-choice voting works:
For more information on ranked-choice voting, check out FairVote California’s video in English or Spanish and their info cards in English, Spanish, and Chinese. You can also read or listen to the Ranked Choice FAQs from the Alameda County Registrar’s office.
Certain candidates in California are elected in a “Top-Two Primary.” These include candidates for:
In a Top-Two Primary, you can cast your vote for any candidate.
Nonpartisan offices: Judges, County Supervisor, other County and Municipal offices, and the Superintendent of Public Instruction are always open to all eligible voters.
What does party preference mean?
Voters may either register with a political party preference or choose "none."
A candidate's party preference does not necessarily mean that they have that political party's support. The list of candidates who receive a party's official endorsement (support) is in the county Voter Information Guide.
Take a look at Do you want to vote for President?
Six political parties are holding presidential primaries:
If you are registered with one of these parties, your ballot will include the candidates running for that party’s nomination.
If you are registered with one political party, you may not vote a ballot for another political party.
You can only vote for the County Central Committees/County Councils if you are registered with that party.
If you are not registered with one of the six political parties, or if you registered Decline to State, Independent, or Nonpartisan, then you are a No Party Preference (NPP) Voter. Click here for more detailed information about how to vote if you are registered as No Party Preference.
Please note - the American Independent Party is a political party in California with its own platform. If you are registered with the American Independent Party then you are not registered as a No Party Preference voter.
Three parties allow NPP voters to vote in their presidential primary:
If you want to vote in one of these party primaries, you must ask for that ballot. Otherwise you will receive a nonpartisan ballot that will not include the office of president.
Three parties allow only voters registered with their party to vote in their presidential primary:
If you want to change your party registration before the primary, then you should re-register and select that party. The last day to re-register to vote is Tuesday, February 18, 2020. NEW Even if you miss that deadline, with Same-Day registration and voting, you may now change your party registration all the way through Election Day and vote with a provisional ballot.
You can always re-register again after the primary as either a “No Party Preference” voter or with any political party.
Also check Information about political parties. For detailed information on registration check Register to Vote.
For more in-depth information visit Everything you Need to Know About Presidential Primaries and Voting in the Primary Election.
Check out the California Secretary of State’s How to Vote for President.
Check out this easy-to-use chart explaining How to Vote in a California General Election from the Center for Civic Design and the League of Women Voters of Voters of California Education Fund.
NEW Now all Californians can Same-Day Register (or re-register), change their political party, and vote with a provisional ballot at every voting location in your county.
If you’re registered as No Party Preference (NPP) but you want to vote for president in the American Independent, Democratic, or Libertarian Party, then here are your options:
Vote-by-Mail
Mail the application directly to your county elections office.
-OR-
Go to your county elections office or a Vote Center (if your county has them) to request a vote-by-mail ballot.
Early In-Person Voting
At the Polls on Election Day, March 3, 2020
If you re-registered after you received a vote-by-mail ballot:
For more information, check the California Secretary of State.
A special election happens when an elected official has left the office before the end of the term. This usually happens when the official dies or has resigned from the office.
A recall election decides whether or not an elected official will be removed from the elected job, and who will replace that official.
For more information visit Recall Elections.
An initiative is a law proposed by a group of citizens by means of a petition containing the signatures of the required number of voters. Initiatives can propose a new law (statutory initiative) or amend the state constitution.
For more information visit Fast Facts on State Ballot Measures.
A referendum is a vote on whether a law passed by the legislature and signed by the governor should be enacted.
For more information visit Fast Facts on State Ballot Measures.
There are some important dates and deadlines for California voters to know. To see if you have upcoming local elections in your area, check the Secretary of State's list of upcoming elections.
In order to vote in the March 3 Primary Election, you must register to vote no later than Tuesday, February 18, 2020.
It is important that your voter registration application be filled out completely and:
Even if you missed the voter registration deadline, it isn't too late to vote. With Same-Day Voter Registration, you can register up to and on Election Day.
You can also check the status of your voter registration to make sure you’re registered.
For detailed information check Register to Vote.
Your vote-by-mail request must be received in the county elections office no later than Tuesday, February 25, 2020.
For detailed information, check How do I vote by mail?
Both vote-by-mail and early-in-person voting start Monday, February 3, 2020 and go through Election Day, Tuesday, March 3, 2020.
From Monday, February 3 through Election Day, Tuesday, March 3.
- Your completed vote-by-mail ballot must be postmarked on or before Election Day, Tuesday, March 3.
- Once mailed and postmarked, the ballot must be received by the elections office Friday, March 6.
From Monday, February 3 through Monday, March 2. Some early voting locations are also open through Election Day.
Tuesday, March 3, from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
For more detailed information check Ways to Vote.
Your county may have an election at various times over the course of a year. Check for election dates, voter registration, and vote-by-mail deadlines in your area.
You have the following rights:
1. The right to vote if you are a registered voter.
You are eligible to vote if you are:
2. The right to vote if you are a registered voter even if your name is not on the list. You will vote using a provisional ballot. Your vote will be counted if elections officials determine that you are eligible to vote.
3. The right to vote if you are still in line when the polls close.
4. The right to cast a secret ballot without anyone bothering you or telling you how to vote.
5. The right to get a new ballot if you have made a mistake, if you have not already cast your ballot. You can:
6. The right to get help casting your ballot from anyone you choose, except from your employer or union representative.
7. The right to drop off your completed vote-by-mail ballot at any polling place in the county where you are registered to vote.
8. The right to get election materials in a language other than English if enough people in your voting precinct speak that language.
9. The right to ask questions to elections officials about election procedures and watch the election process. If the person you ask cannot answer your questions, they must send youto the right person for an answer. If you are disruptive, they can stop answering you.
10. The right to report any illigal or fraudulent election activity to an elections official or the Secretary of State's office.
If you believe you have been denied any of these rights, call the Secretary of State's confidential toll-free voter hotline at (800) 345-VOTE (8683).
Download your California Voter Bill of Rights from the Secretary of State in any of the following languages:
English
Spanish
Chinese
Hindi
Japanese
Khmer
Korean
Tagalog
Thai
Vietnamese
Your County Elections Office
Contact your County Elections Office to get any voting problem resolved quickly.
The California Secretary of State
If you believe you have been denied any of your voting rights, or you are aware of any election fraud or misconduct, you can call the Secretary of State's confidential toll-free Voter Hotline at (800) 345-VOTE (8683).
Election Protection
If you encounter any issues in casting your ballot, or feel like your rights were violated, visit the Election Protection website or call one of the hotlines below to get help resolving your dispute and reporting your claim.
English: 866-OUR-VOTE (866-687-8683)
Spanish & English: 888-Ve-Y-Vota (888-839-8682)
Download Prepare. Know Your Rights. Vote. in Spanish and English. For more information, check ya es hora ¡VE Y VOTA!
Chinese, Vietnamese, Korean, Bengali, Urdu, Hindi, and Filipino/Tagalog: 888-API-VOTE (888-274-8683)
Download Know your Voting Rights from Asian Americans Advancing Justice, California.
Check here for more information about Election Protection and the hotline schedule.
Disability Rights California
Voice: 1-888-569-7955
TTY: 1-800-719-5798
California Relay Service: Dial 711
Disability Rights California will explain your rights, work to resolve a problem, and help file a complaint If you have a disability and:
Download and print the hotline for voters with disabilities one-pager.
For more information check Disability Rights California
State and federal laws require polling places to be physically accessible to voters with disabilities.
County elections officials inspect each site and often make temporary modifications to homes, libraries, churches, businesses, schools, or other facilities for Election Day.
Poll workers are trained on election laws and the rights of voters with disabilities, including the need to make reasonable modifications of policies and procedures to ensure equal access.
Before each election, every registered voter is notified whether their polling place is accessible. This notification appears on the Voter Information Guide mailed to each voter by their county.
The California Secretary of State has approved several voting systems for use that allow voters with disabilities to cast their votes privately and independently.
Remote accessible vote-by-mail (RAVBM) systems provide an accessible option for voters with disabilities to receive their ballots at home and mark them independently and privately before sending them back to elections officials. Contact your County Elections Office for more information.
For more information check How do I vote if I have disabilities? or visit Disability Rights California. To learn more about the rights of voters with mental disabilities, read this guide prepared by the Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law.
Watch the Center for Independence's video on Why You Should Vote.
Know your rights in 13 languages.
Get information about your rights in eleven languages from Asian Americans Advancing Justice, California. The materials will help first-time voters, immigrant voters, and limited-English proficient voters exercise their right to vote on Election Day. They have instructions on how to register to vote, how to vote, how to access language assistance in the voting process, and how to handle problems encountered during Election Day, among other subjects.
Arabic
Chinese
English
Farsi
Hindi
Hmong
Japanese
Khmer
Korean
Punjabi
Spanish
Tagalog
Thai
Vietnamese
For more information visit the California Secretary of State.
What are my voting rights if I have a misdemeanor?
A misdemeanor conviction does not affect your right to vote at all. You can vote in all elections.
What are my voting rights if I have a felony?
If you have a felony conviction, you can vote IF you:
The only time you are not allowed to vote is IF you:
Once you have completed your sentence and parole, you can register to vote. If you are unsure what type of sentence you are serving check with your parole or probation officer.
Can I vote when I am on parole?
No. You can only vote once you have completed your parole.
Can I vote on mandatory supervision?
Yes! You can vote at all times when you are on mandatory supervision.
Can I vote while I am on post-release community supervision?
Yes! You can vote at all times when you are on post-release community supervision.
Can I vote when I am on probation?
Yes! You can vote at all times when you are on probation, whether your conviction is a felony or a misdemeanor
Can I vote while I am in county jail?
Maybe. You can vote IF you are in county jail:
The only time you lose the right to vote while in county jail is when you are:
How do I get back my right to vote?
In California, you do not need to do anything to “restore” your right to vote. It is automatically restored once you have completed your sentence and are no longer on parole. However, you must register or re-register to vote in an upcoming election.
For more information visit Let Me Vote.
Download brochures in English and in Spanish.
You can also download and print Let Me Vote palm cards in English and Spanish.
What does it take to be a poll worker? You must be
A registered California voter or legal resident of the United States.
A high school student who
Contact your county elections office for an application.
Check out this great opportunity to help your community while earning extra money: be a Poll Worker in Contra Costa County!
Contra Costa County is also seeking bilingual poll workers who speak Spanish, Chinese, Tagalog, Hindi, Korean, Vietnamese and Japanese to assist voters with language assistance.
Check out this interactive map providing contact info and quick stats on your county’s elections.
What is a political party?
A political party is a group of people who try to determine public policy and influence government by getting its candidates elected to office.
What is a “qualified political party?”
What are the qualified political parties in California?
For more information, visit the California Secretary of State.
For information on State legislative districts and U.S. Congressional Offices, visit the California Secretary of State.
For information on your city, county, and other local offices contact your county elections office.
Evaluating state ballot measures:
For more information visit Fast Facts on State Ballot Measures.
Check out this easy to use chart explaining How California Primary Elections Work from the Center for Civic Design and the League of Women Voters of Voters of California Education Fund.
What are bonds?
Bonds are a form of long-term borrowing that the state uses to raise money for large projects. The state sells bonds to investors and agrees to repay the investors, with interest, over a certain number of years, somewhat like a mortgage.
Why are bonds used?
Projects such as roads, school building, prisons, parks, office buildings, and housing for veterans involve large dollar costs, and are used over many years. The use of bonds helps to fund the initial large dollar costs, which are hard to fund out of day-to-day operating revenues. Also the repayment of these bonds over time means that future taxpayers who benefit from the facilities will help to pay for them.
What types of bonds does the state sell?
What are the direct costs of bond financing?
The state must repay the principal of the bonds over time to the investors until the bonds are fully paid off, plus annual interest costs. The interest cost of repaying bonds depends on the current interest rate and the time period over which the bonds are to be repaid.
Visit the California Secretary of State's Guide to Voter Registration Drives.
The Future of California Elections (FoCE) is a collaboration between election officials, civil rights organizations and election reform advocates to examine and address the unique challenges facing the State of California’s election system.
Visit the Voter Experience Index. This informative set of tools was developed to improve the voter experience. It is a collection of research, publications and “how-to” guides produced by members of Future of California Elections and partners.
Contact the League of Women Voters California Education Fund for additional election information.
To find contact information for your local election office, search for your county or address here or find your county election office on the California Secretary of State website.
The Voter's Edge California voter guide provides in-depth information about what's on your ballot. Enter your address to get a personalized list of candidates and ballot measures, including biographies, top priorities, who supports each candidate, and more. The voter guide includes descriptions of each California ballot measure and who is spending money for and against each measure. With Voter’s Edge, you have all the election information you need at your fingertips.
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