Voting Info —Tuesday June 5, 2018 —California Primary Election

Fill out and submit a voter registration form to vote in the November 8, 2022, General Election by Monday, October 24, 2022.

NEW: Even if you missed the deadline, you can still register and vote at any voting location up to and through Election Day. Check here to see how!

1. Sign Up!

• You are eligible to vote if you are a U.S. citizen, 18 years or older, not currently serving a state or federal prison term for the conviction of a felony, 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, October 24 to vote in the November 8 election.
• Fill out the form online at registertovote.ca.gov. You can also pick up a voter registration form at your library or post office or call 1-800-345-8683 to have a registration form mailed.
• It is important to fill out the form completely. You will be asked to include your driver’s license number or other identification.
• Missed the deadline? You can still register and vote in this election at any voting location up to and through Election Day. If you go to your assigned location, then your ballot will be sure to include all the contests on which you’re allowed to vote. Check here to see how!
• Once you are on the list, you only need to re-register if you change your address, change your name, want to change your political party, need to update your signature, or are no longer serving a state or federal prison term for the conviction of a felony.

For more information, check Can I Register To Vote?

2. Get Ready!

• Before you vote, it helps to learn about what you will be voting on.
• All registered voters receive two things in the mail:
  • A county Voter Information Guide that lists everything that will be on your ballot along with where you vote.
  • An Official Voter Information Guide about statewide candidates and measures.
• You can use this Voter's Edge California site for more information about everything on your ballot plus a handy way to find your polling place.

3. Vote!

This year, if you are already registered to vote, you will receive a ballot in the mail. You choose whether to vote in person at your voting location, or return the ballot you received either by mail or by dropping it off.

• By Mail. If you wish to use the mailed ballot instead of voting in person, fill it out and mail it back early so that it is postmarked no later than Election Day, November 8.
• Or Dropoff. You may drop off your ballot at any voting location in your county. Your county may also open secure ballot drop off locations starting about a month before Election Day, November 8.
• Or In Person. For voting in person on Election Day, November 8, the polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• Early Voting. You may also be able to vote in person before Election Day. Check caearlyvoting.sos.ca.gov.

Watch How to Return Your Completed Vote-by-Mail Ballot.

Check Ways to Vote for more information.

Visit the Easy Voter Guide website for more voting information and to download a copy in English, Spanish, Chinese, Vietnamese, or Korean.

Fill out and submit a voter registration form to vote in the June 5, 2018, Primary Election by Monday, May 21, 2018.

NEW: Even if you missed the deadline, you can still register and vote up to and on Election Day. Check here to see how!

1. Sign Up!

• You are eligible to vote if you are a U.S. citizen, 18 years or older.
• You must register to get on the official list of voters in your county.
  The deadline to register is Monday, May 21 to vote in the June 5 election.
• You can pick up a voter registration form at your library or post office, have a registration form mailed to you by calling 1-800-345-8683, or fill out the form online at www.registertovote.ca.gov.
• It is important to fill out the form completely. You will be asked to include your driver license number or other identification.
• Once you are on the list, you only need to re-register if you change your address, change your name, or want to change your political party.

For more information, check Can I Register To Vote?

2. Get Ready!

• Before you vote, it helps to learn about what you will be voting on.
• All registered voters receive two things in the mail:
  • A Sample Ballot that lists everything that will be on your ballot along with where you vote (your “polling place”).
  • An Official Voter Information Guide about statewide candidates and measures.
• You can use this Voter's Edge California site for more information about everything on your ballot plus a handy way to find your polling place.

Find your polling place and ballot.

3. Vote!

• You choose whether to vote at your polling place or use a “vote-by-mail” ballot.
• For voting in person, the polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. You may also be able to vote before Election Day at your county elections office.
  If you registered and your name is not on the list of voters at your assigned polling place, you can vote using a “provisional ballot.”
• To vote by mail, use the form in your Sample Ballot to request a “vote by mail” ballot to be sent to you. The deadline to ask for one is Tuesday, May 29. When your “vote by mail” ballot comes, fill it out and mail it back so that it is postmarked no later than Election Day, June 5. You may also drop it off at any polling place in your county on election day. You can sign up to get a “vote by mail” ballot for every election.

Check Ways to Vote for more information.

Visit the Easy Voter Guide for more voting information and to download a copy, and get your Voting is Easy as 1-2-3 flyer here.

To register to vote in California, you must be:

• A United States citizen living in California
• 18 years of age or older on Election Day
• Not currently serving a state or federal prison term for the conviction of a felony
• Not found by a court to be mentally incompetent

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.

Online at registertovote.ca.gov

• If you have a California driver license or identification card number, you can authorize use of that signature for the registration form. Fill out the online application and simply hit “submit” at the end.
• If there is no signature on file with the Department of Motor Vehicles, you will need to:
  • Enter your date of birth and last four digits of your social security number.
  • Click “print.”
  • Sign the paper application.
  • Mail it to the address provided.
  • No printer? Go ahead and click “I don’t have the ability to print” and your county elections official will mail you a form to sign and return.

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 people with disabilities.

Fill out a voter registration form no later than Monday, May 21, 2018.

It is important that your voter registration application be filled out completely and:

• Submitted online before midnight on May 21; or
• Postmarked or hand-delivered to your county elections office by May 21.

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.

Same-day register and vote in person. To register up to and on Election Day, go to any voting location and complete three simple steps:

1. Register to vote.

2. Vote.

3. Seal your ballot in the provided envelope, and sign it on the line marked for signature.

You can do this at any voting location in your county, but if you go to your assigned location, then your ballot will be sure to include all the contests on which you’re allowed to vote. Check your polling location.

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 - starting early and going all the way up through Election Day!

Same-day register and vote from home. If you need to register after the deadline and want to vote from home, contact your County Elections Office to find out how to register and get a vote by mail ballot through Election Day.

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.

• Victims of domestic violence, stalking and sexual assault are able to use a free P.O. box instead of their home address to help them maintain their privacy when receiving first-class mail and registering to vote.
• Safe at Home registrants can receive their voter information and sample ballots at this P.O. box.
• While in the program, participants are required to vote by mail.

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.

You must re-register if you:

• Move to a different address.
• Change your name.
• Wish to change political parties or to register with no party preference.
• Were removed from the registration rolls while in state or federal prison for the conviction of a felony.

You have a choice.

• You may choose among qualified political parties or choose “other,”
• OR If you do not want to register as a member of a political party you can mark the box next to “No, I do not want to disclose a political party preference” on the voter registration form.
• Your choice to register with no party preference may affect your ability to vote in a March Primary Election for U.S. President and County Central Committees, but you will still be able to vote for other offices and measures on the ballot.
• You may register with no party preference and still vote for any candidate on the ballot in the November General Election.

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:

• a member of the Uniformed Services (on active duty) or an eligible dependent
• a member of the Merchant Marine or an eligible dependent
• a commissioned corps of the Public Health Service
• a commissioned corps of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
• residing outside the United States.

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 unhoused or experiencing homelessness if:

• You have a fixed location where you can be assigned to a voting precinct. You must describe your location using cross streets, landmarks, or other information to explain where you live.
• AND you have a place where you can receive mail, such as a post office box or shelter.

This year you have options to vote safely and easily. Every registered voter in California will receive a ballot in the mail a month before the election.

There are 3 ways to vote. You can choose to mail back your ballot, drop it off, or you can vote in person. Your in-person voting location may be different than the one you usually visit.

Get ready for your mailed ballot

• Register to vote no later than October 24, 2022 at registertovote.ca.gov.
• Check your registration to make sure it’s up to date.
• If your signature has changed over time, then re-register to update your signature at registertovote.ca.gov.
• If you want to get voting materials in a language other than English, make that choice at voterstatus.sos.ca.gov.

Missed the voter registration deadline? You can still register and vote at any voting location, 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!

Note: If you live in Madera, Napa, Nevada, Sacramento, or San Mateo counties and you are already registered to vote, you will automatically receive your ballot in the mail. 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, May 29, by 5 PM.

Follow the directions to fill out your ballot and envelope.

• Mark your vote-by-mail ballot.
• Place the vote-by-mail ballot in the special envelope provided by your county’s election office.
• Fill out the information on the envelope.
  Don't forget to sign the back of the envelope.
  Seal the envelope.
• You may have to put postage on the envelope.
  Make sure that you use the right amount of postage.

Return the ballot:

• By mail or
• Drop it off at a location designated by your county or
• Drop it off at any polling place in your county by 8 pm on Election Day.

You can have a relative or person living in your house drop off your vote-by-mail ballot at a polling place on election day. Fill in the information on the return envelope.

If you mail your ballot back, don’t delay.

• Your completed vote-by-mail ballot must be postmarked on or before Tuesday, June 5.
• Once mailed and postmarked, the ballot must be received by the elections office no later than Friday, June 8.

Follow the instructions in Vote by Mail to fill out your ballot and envelope.

If you decide to hand in your ballot instead of mailing it, you must drop it off no later than 8PM on Tuesday, November 8.

• Drop off your ballot at any voting location in your county.
• Drop off your ballot at any secure Ballot Dropbox starting on Tuesday, October 11 through Election Day.
• No postage is required on your return envelope.
• Some Dropboxes may be accessible 24 hours a day.

For details and locations check caearlyvoting.sos.ca.gov.

Watch How to Return Your Completed Vote-by-Mail Ballot

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.

In-Person Voting Tip

• If you choose to vote in person, it may help to bring the ballot that was mailed to you.
• If you don’t bring your mailed ballot, some counties will require you to vote using a provisional ballot that will be counted once elections officials check that you are eligible to vote.
• If you live in one of the following “Voter’s Choice” counties, you can get a regular ballot at any Vote Center, even if you didn’t bring the ballot that was mailed to you: Alameda, Amador, Calaveras, Butte, El Dorado, Fresno, Kings, Los Angeles, Madera, Marin, Mariposa, Merced, Napa, Nevada, Orange, Riverside, Sacramento, San Benito, San Diego, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Sonoma, Stanislaus, Tuolumne, Ventura, and Yolo. For more information check the California Secretary State's website.
• In "Voter's Choice counties" your neighborhood polling locations may no longer be open. Instead, you can vote at any Vote Center. Vote Centers will start opening two Saturdays before the election and stay open through Election Day.

Check here for a list of early voting and ballot drop-off locations in your county.

At in-person Voting Locations you can:

• Vote in person
• Drop off your completed ballot
• Vote with an accessible voting machine
• Get help and voting materials in multiple languages.

How do I vote at the polling place or vote center in person?

• Polling places are open from 7 AM to 8 PM on Tuesday, November 8.

• Early voting, starting before Election Day, will be available in some locations. Find Early Voting and Ballot Dropbox locations at caearlyvoting.sos.ca.gov.

In Person Voting Tip

• If you choose to vote in person, it may help to bring the ballot that was mailed to you.
• If you don’t bring your mailed ballot, some counties will require you to vote using a provisional ballot that will be counted once elections officials check that you are eligible to vote.
• If you live in one of the following “Voter’s Choice” counties, you can get a regular ballot at any Vote Center, even if you didn’t bring the ballot that was mailed to you: Alameda, Amador, Calaveras, Butte, El Dorado, Fresno, Kings, Los Angeles, Madera, Marin, Mariposa, Merced, Napa, Nevada, Orange, Riverside, Sacramento, San Benito, San Diego, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Sonoma, Stanislaus, Tuolumne, Ventura, and Yolo. For more information check the California Secretary State's website.

How do I find my polling place?

• If you provided your voting address, then your polling location is printed here in the My Voting Location section of this site.
• You can find your polling place location on the back of the Voter Information Guide mailed to you by your county; or,
• You can contact your County Elections Office to find your polling place.
• You can text "Vote" to GOVOTE (468683); or
• You can call (800) 345-VOTE (8683) and choose option 5.

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

• Mark (fill out) your ballot by following the instructions.
• Tear off the stub at the top of the ballot. You may use this stub later to check that your ballot was counted.
• You will place your ballot in an envelope or folder, or fold it if instructed by your county.
• Cast your ballot by following the procedures required by your county.
• Put your ballot into either a ballot box or a scanner if your polling location uses a scanner.

For touchscreen voting machines

Not all California counties use the same type of touchscreen voting machines.

• The poll worker will give you either a unique passcode or a computer memory card to gain access to the type of touchscreen in your county.
• Follow the instructions on the machine.
• If you have questions, ask a poll worker.

How do I vote at the polling place in person?

Polling places are open from 7 AM to 8 PM on Tuesday, June 5.

Vote Centers in Madera, Napa, Nevada, Sacramento, and San Mateo 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?

• If you provided your voting address, then your polling location is printed here in the My Voting Location section of this site.
• You can find your polling place location on the back of the Sample Ballot (or voter information pamphlet) mailed to you by your county; or,
• You can contact your County Elections Office to find your polling place.
• You can text "Vote" to GOVOTE (468683); or
• You can call (800) 345-VOTE (8683) and choose option 5.

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

• Mark (fill out) your ballot by following the instructions.
• Tear off the stub at the top of the ballot. You may use this stub later to check that your ballot was counted.
• To preserve the secrecy of your vote you will place your ballot in an envelope or folder, or fold it if instructed by your county.
• Cast your ballot by following the procedures required by your county.
• Put your ballot into either a ballot box or a scanner if your polling location uses a scanner.

For touchscreen voting machines

Not all California counties use the same type of touchscreen voting machines.

• The poll worker will give you either a unique passcode or a computer memory card to gain access to the type of touchscreen in your county.
• Follow the instructions on the machine.
• If you have questions, ask a poll worker.

If you live in one of these Voter’s Choice Act counties, there are big changes as to how you vote. Alameda, Amador, Calaveras, Butte, El Dorado, Fresno, Kings, Los Angeles, Madera, Marin, Mariposa, Merced, Napa, Nevada, Orange, Riverside, Sacramento, San Benito, San Diego, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Sonoma, Stanislaus, Tuolumne, Ventura, and Yolo.

If you are registered to vote in any of these counties you will automatically receive a ballot in the mail a few weeks before the election. Most neighborhood polling places will no longer be used for voting. Instead, you will have three choices for how to vote.

1. Vote By Mail

You can fill out and mail in your ballot as soon as you receive it. No postage is required to vote by mail.

2. Ballot Drop Box

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.

3. Vote Center

You can vote in person by visiting any Vote Center in your county. At every Vote Center, you can:

• Vote in person.
• Drop off your completed ballot.
• Vote with an accessible voting machine.
• Get help and voting materials in multiple languages.
• Register and vote even after the registration deadline has passed, including on Election Day, Tuesday, November 8.

When Vote Centers Are Open

All Vote Centers will be open for at least 3 days before Election Day. For the November 8 General, this means all Vote Centers will be open from Saturday, November 5, through Tuesday, November 8.

Some Vote Centers will be open for 10 days before Election Day. For the November 8 General, some Vote Centers will open starting Saturday, October 29.

Find a Ballot Drop Box location or Vote Center.

Learn more about the Voter's Choice Act.

Language Assistance

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. Learn more about language assistance at Vote Centers in several languages with factsheets from Asian Americans Advancing Justice.

Accessible Voting Places

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.

Why the Change?

The Voter’s Choice Act is designed to make voting more convenient and accessible.

• You choose how you vote: Whether using the mail, a Ballot Drop Box, or a Vote Center, you choose the method that works best for you. Voters with disabilities may use their own accessible technology to mark their ballot at home.
• You choose when you vote: Instead of just one day to vote, you can vote in person for up to 10 days before the election, even on the weekends.
• You choose where you vote: You can vote at home or at any Vote Center location in your county.
• You get the support you need: Vote Center staff will be there to help you have a great voting experience, including providing assistance in multiple languages and helping voters with disabilities.

Every registered voter in California will receive a ballot in the mail a month before the election.

NEW: You can track your ballot by signing up at Where’s My Ballot or by calling 800-345-VOTE (8683). This service will alert you when your ballot is mailed to you, when it is received by your county elections office, and when it is officially counted. You can choose to get emails, text messages, or automated voice messages anytime there is an update to the status of your ballot.

People’s signatures change over time and for various reasons. When you use a mailed ballot you’ll need to sign the back of the envelope. Check here for how to vote by mail.

Make sure your signature looks like the one you used when you registered to vote.

• If you registered to vote at the DMV or online, the signature will be the one on your Driver’s License or State ID.
• Uncertain? Think your signature has changed since you registered? Re-register with your updated signature.

Other Signature Reminders

If you ask someone else such as a family member or friend to return your ballot for you, they also need to sign and date the ballot, and list their relationship to you.

What happens if I use the wrong signature? If you didn’t sign your ballot envelope or used the wrong signature, you will have a chance to correct it. Your county elections office will let you know there was an issue after the election. You will have until December 6, 2022 to correct any issue with your signature.

• If you used the wrong signature, you will need to submit a signature verification statement by mail, email, fax, or in person.
• If you didn’t sign your ballot envelope, you will need to sign the envelope at your county elections office or submit a statement by mail, email, fax, or in person.

Learn more about how to fix a missing or mismatched signature on your vote-by-mail return envelope from the Secretary of State.

What if I cannot sign my name?

If you have a disability and cannot sign your name, you can still vote. Just make a mark and have a witness write their name. The witness must be at least 18 years old.

Learn more about signing your name with a disability at Disability Rights California.

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:

• You are voting for the first time in a Federal election and you registered by mail.
• You did not provide either your driver's license number, state ID number, or the last four digits of your social security number on the registration card when registering by mail.
• Acceptable forms of ID include a California driver’s license, California identification card, passport, or a student ID card showing your name and photograph. Visit the California Secretary of State for more information on acceptable identification.

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:

• Do not appear on the list of voters at the polling place.
• Moved into a new precinct and did not update their registration.
• Registered by mail, but did not provide a CA drivers license number, CA ID number or the last 4 digits of their Social Security Number when they registered.
• Return vote-by-mail ballots to the polls without an envelope.
• Vote by mail, but decide that they would prefer to vote in person and do not bring their vote-by-mail ballot to turn in at the polling place.
• Register too late for their names to be printed on the list of voters.

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?

• Fill out your name and current address on the provisional envelope and sign it.
• After the polls close, the ballot is returned to the election office, where the information on the envelope is verified against the voter registration records.
• If the information that the voter has written on the envelope matches, then the ballot is removed from the envelope and counted.

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?

• You can get a new ballot as long as you have not already cast (voted) your ballot.
• If you vote in-person ask a poll worker for a new ballot.
• If you have your vote-by-mail ballot, you can turn it in and request a new ballot either at your county elections office or polling place.
• If you do not have your original vote-by-mail ballot you can vote using a provisional ballot.

The process to correct a voting mistake is a little different if you live in a Voter’s Choice county. 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:

• If you moved within 14 days before the election you can vote at the polling place for your old address, but only for that election.
• You may vote a provisional ballot at your new polling place or at the county elections office.
  You will need to show identification that indicates your new residence and fill out a written confirmation that you’re eligible to vote and registered in the county where you’re voting.
• If you moved to an address that is assigned to the same polling location as your old address, then no matter when you moved you may vote at that location. However, you must confirm your change of address at the polling place.

I moved to a new county:

• If you moved within 14 days before the election you can vote at the polling place for your old address, but only for that election.
• If you moved on or before the registration deadline, which is 15 days prior to the election, then you must re-register at your new address in order to vote at the upcoming election. Check How do I register to vote?

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.

• You should receive your ballot between 45 and 30 days before Election Day. If you do not receive one, contact your county.
• If you do not receive a ballot 30 days before Election Day you may be able to request Federal Write-In Ballot that allows you to vote in federal, but not California, elections. Check with your county elections office about this.
• Follow the directions received with your ballot to fill it out. Review the ballot to make sure you voted for every contest you intended.

Return your ballot:

• By mail:

  • Fill out and sign as directed on the back of the return envelope.
  • Mail it using US Post Office if you are in the U.S.
  • If outside the U.S. use APO/FPO or diplomatic pouch mail. OR use foreign postal system and make sure you use the correct postage.
    • Consult your post office to find out when the ballot should be mailed to make sure it is postmarked no later than Election Day and arrives in your county no later than three days after Election Day. In other words, mail your ballot back before Election Day.

• By fax if you are living outside the territorial US:

  • Fax the ballot plus the completed return envelope.
  • Fax an Oath of Voter form that your county provides. The oath waives your right to confidential voting because you are faxing your ballot.
  • Your faxed ballot and materials must be received by county elections office by 8 p.m. Pacific time on Election Day.

• 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.

Learn more about making a plan for successful voting on the Disability Rights California website.

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:

• Your employer or someone who works for your employer; or
• Your labor union leader or someone who works for your labor union.

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. You can read more about remote accessible vote-by-mail on the Disability Rights California website.

Accessible Voting Places

Check the back cover of your Sample Ballot for the wheelchair symbol that shows whether or not your polling place is accessible.

Wheelchair accessible voting booths are available at all Merced County polling places.

Accessible Voting Information

Voteing Assistance Centers will provide accessible ballot marking devices for voters with disabilities. Those who go to a Voting Assistance Center will be asked to wear a mask and may have to wait in line.

Merced County's Multilingual Virtual Poll Worker Program (MVP) assists voters who are deaf by providing iPads which connect voters to American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters. The Elections Department will have an MVP at each Voting Assistance Center.

Remote Accessible Vote by Mail

Voters with disabilities may request a remote accessible vote-by-mail ballot in English or Español/Spanish. You can use this ballot at home with your own computer and assistive technologies, then print the ballot and mail or drop it off. To learn more about using an accessible vote-by-mail ballot, click here. Email Elections or call (209) 385-7541 for help with the Remote Accessible Vote by Mail system.

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.

• (800) 232-VOTA (8682) - Español / Spanish
• (800) 339-2857 - 中文 / Chinese
• (888) 345-2692 - हिन्दी / Hindi
• (800) 339-2865 - 日本語 / Japanese
• (888) 345-4917 - ខ្មែរ / Khmer
• (866) 575-1558 - 한국어 / Korean
• (800) 339-2957 - Tagalog
• (855) 345-3933 - ภาษาไทย / Thai
• (800) 339-8163 - Việt ngữ / Vietnamese
• (408) 320-7454 - Punjabi (provided by Jakara Movement)

For more information on in-language voting resources visit the California Secretary of State and read this handy Language Assistance Fact Sheet. This and other documents are available in several languages on the Asian Americans Advancing Justice website.

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.

The Registrar of Voters provides services and official election materials, including translated ballots, to voters in English and Español/Spanish.

中文/Chinese, ਪੰਜਾਬੀ/Punjabi, Hmong, and Mien versions of ballots and language assistance are available at some polling locations. Voting Assistance Centers will post visible signs indicating the languages spoken at that location. Voters may request a translated ballot be sent to them by mail or email.

Merced County's Multilingual Virtual Poll Worker Program (MVP) assists voters who are deaf by providing iPads which connect voters to interpreters for over 240 languages. Languages include Español/Spanish, Hmong, ਪੰਜਾਬੀ/Punjabi, and American Sign Language (ASL). The Elections Department will have an MVP at each Voting Assistance Center.

Learn about how you can get involved with the Merced County elections language accessibility advisory committee.

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:

• Are hospitalized, in a nursing home, sanatorium, or in your residence and you are too sick to get to the polling place.
• Have a physical handicap that causes you to be unable to get to your polling place.
• Have a physical handicap that makes you unable to vote at your polling place due to architectural barriers denying you physical access to the polling place, voting booth, or voting apparatus or machinery.
• Are unable to go to your polling place because of conditions resulting in your absence from the precinct on Election Day.

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.

• The Secretary of State also offers a form that can be used to give someone permission (“authorization”) to pick up a new vote-by-mail ballot for you, you must fill out a form called “Application to Provide Vote-by-Mail Ballot to Representative.”
• Once you recieve the ballot, mark it as directed and return the ballot in the same manner that you return any vote-by-mail ballot. For detailed instructions check How do I vote by mail?

Or, if you are able, you can go to your county elections office during open hours and vote early in person.

For more information, visit Disability Rights California or the Secretary of State's Voters with Medical Emergencies Fact Sheet.

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:

• To start, every first-choice selection is counted. Any candidate who receives a majority (more than 50%) of the first-choice selections is declared the winner.
• If no candidate receives more than 50% of the first-choice selections, the candidate who received the fewest number of first-choice selections is eliminated.
• Voters who selected the eliminated candidate as their first choice will have their vote transferred to their second choice.
• The votes are then recounted. If any remaining candidate receives more than 50% of the votes, they are declared the winner.
• If no remaining candidate receives more than 50% of the votes, the process of eliminating candidates and transferring votes to the next ranked candidate is repeated until one candidate has a winning majority.

For more information on ranked-choice voting, check out FairVote California’s video 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:

• U.S. Senate
• U.S. Representative
• State Senate
• State Assembly
• Governor and Lt. Governor
• Treasurer
• Secretary of State
• Attorney General
• Controller
• Insurance Commissioner
• Board of Equalization

In a Top-Two Primary, you can cast your vote for any candidate.

• All candidates from all parties will be on the ballot for these contests.
• You don’t have to be registered with a party to vote on these contests.
• You can vote for a candidate from any party.
• You can “write in” a candidate in the Primary Election.
• The two candidates with the most votes will appear on the General Election ballot even if they have the same party preference.

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.

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.

• Each race has a blank spot with a line drawn on it for a write-in candidate.
• Mark the spot beside the line as if you were voting for a candidate whose name is printed on the ballot.
• Write the name of the candidate you wish to vote for on the line.
• Each county publishes a list of qualified write-in candidates.
  The list will be available at your polling place and the county elections office.
• If you write in the name of a qualified write-in candidate, your vote will be counted.
• A vote for someone who is not on the qualified candidate list will not be counted.

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.

The voter registration application deadline is no later than Monday, May 21.

It is important that your voter registration application be filled out completely and:

• Submitted online no later than midnight on Monday, May 21
• OR postmarked or hand-delivered to your county elections office by Monday, May 21.

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, May 29, by 5 PM.

For detailed information, check How do I vote by mail?

Before Election Day

Both vote-by-mail and early-in-person voting always start Monday, May 7, 2018.

By Mail

From Monday, May 7* through Election Day, Tuesday, June 5.

• Your completed vote-by-mail ballot must be postmarked on or before Election Day, Tuesday, June 5.
• Once mailed and postmarked, the ballot must be received by the elections office no later than Friday, June 8.

Early-in-person

From Monday, May 7,* through Monday, June 4. Some early voting locations are also open through Election Day.

On Election day

Tuesday, June 5, from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

For detailed information check Ways to Vote.

*Monday, May 28, is Memorial Day, and some election offices may be closed. Check with your County Elections Office to find out whether or not they have locations open.

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:

• a U.S. citizen living in California
• at least 18 years old
• registered where you currently live
• not currently in state or federal prison for the conviction of a felony

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:

• Ask an elections official at a polling place for a new ballot; or
• Exchange your vote-by-mail ballot for a new one at an elections office, or at your polling place; or
• Vote using a provisional ballot, if you do not have your orginal vote-by-mail ballot.

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.

• On the web at the Secretary of State's website
• By phone at (800) 345-VOTE (8683)
• By email at elections@sos.cac.gov

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

Check out the Voter Bill of Rights video!

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)

Español/Spanish: 888-VE-Y-VOTA (888-839-8682)

For more voting information in English and Spanish, visit ¡Ve y Vota!

中文/Chinese, Tiếng Việt/Vietnamese, 한국어/Korean, বাংলা/Bengali, اُردُو/Urdu, हिंदी/Hindi, and Filipino/Tagalog: 888-API-VOTE (888-274-8683)

Arabic: 844-YALLA-US (844-925-52872)

Punjabi: (408)-320-7454

Download Know Your Voting Rights in:

• English - Language Assistance for California Voters

How To Vote

• 如何投票 (简体) / Chinese - Simplified
• 如何投票 (繁体) / Chinese - Traditional
• Paano Bumoto / Filipino/Tagalog
• Yuav Pov Npav lis Cas / Hmong
• របៀបបោះឆ្នោតក្នុងការបោះ / Khmer
• 예비 선거 방법 / Korean
• ວິທີລົງຄະແນນໃນການ / Lao
• Cách Bỏ Phiếu / Vietnamese
• ਕੈਲੀਫੋਰਨੀਆ ਦੀਆਂ 2022 ਦੀਆਂ ਪ੍ਰਾਇਮਰੀ ਚੋਣਾਂ ਵਿੱਚ ਵੋਟ ਕਿਵੇਂ ਪਾਈਏ / Punjabi

Language Access

• 加州选民的语言协助(简体) / Chinese - Simplified
• 加州選民的語言協助 / Chinese - Traditional
• Tulong sa Lengguwahe/Wika para sa mga Botanteng Taga-California / Filipino/Tagalog
• Kev Pab Txhais Lus rau California Cov Neeg Pov Npab / Hmong
• ជំនួយភាសាសម្រាប់អ្នកបោះឆ្នោត California / Khmer
• 캘리포니아 유권자를 위한 언어 지원 / Korean
• ການຊ່ວຍເຫຼືອດ້ານພາສາສຳລັບຜູ້ລົງຄະແນນໃນ California / Lao
• Hỗ Trợ Ngôn Ngữ Cho Cử Tri California / Vietnamese
• ਕੈਲੀਫੋਰਨੀਆ ਦੇ ਵੋਟਰਾਂ ਲਈਭਾਸ਼ਾ ਸਹਾਇਤਾ / Punjabi

Check here for more information about Election Protection.

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:

• You cannot get into your polling place
• The accessible voting machine is not working
• Other people can see how you are voting
• You are told you cannot vote because you have a disability
• You have a question about you right to vote

For more information for voters with disabilities, check Disability Rights California

What are my rights to access and vote at polling places?

State and federal laws require polling places to be physically accessible to voters with disabilities.

Access to the polling place

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.

Voting

The California Secretary of State has approved several voting systems for use that allow voters with disabilities to cast their votes privately and independently.

• 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 verify their choices and, if there is an error, allows them to correct those choices before submitting their final ballot.
• Poll workers must provide curbside voting for voters with disabilities who need this assistance.

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. You can also read more about remote accessible vote-by-mail on the Disability Rights California website.

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.

Disability Rights California operates a Voting Hotline to assist Voters with Disabilities. Please feel free to call for assistance: 1-888-569-7955.

Watch the Center for Independence's video on Why You Should Vote.

What rights do I have for language assistance?

• Local elections officials are required to provide services and official election materials to bilingual voters in precincts where there are a certain number of people who speak the language.
• In some localities, voter information pamphlets and sample ballots are translated into Chinese, Spanish, Tagalog and Vietnamese, among other languages.
• In some polling places, bilingual poll workers are available to assist voters in their own language.

Know your rights
Get information about your rights 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. Currently, these materials are only available in English, but they will be translated into other languages before the November general election.

English

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:

• Are on probation, even if you are in county jail as a condition of your probation, or
• You are serving a felony county jail sentence under realignment, or
• Have completed your probation, or
• Are awaiting a judge’s decision on a probation violation, or
• Are on mandatory supervision, or
• Are on post-release community supervision, or
• Are on parole, or
• Have completed your parole.

The only time you are not allowed to vote is IF you:

• Have a felony conviction and you are still in state or federal prison, or
• Are awaiting transfer to a state or federal prison.

Once you have completed your sentence, you can register to vote.

Can I vote when I am on parole?
Yes. California voters passed Proposition 17 (2020), which restored the right to vote to people on 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:

• Awaiting trial for any crime, or
• For a misdemeanor conviction, or
• Serving a felony county jail sentence under realignment
• On a probation or parole violation, or
• On felony probation.

The only time you lose the right to vote while in county jail is when you are currently serving a state or federal prison sentence and:

• In jail awaiting transfer to a state or federal prison, or
• Serving your state prison sentence in county jail because of a contract between CDCR and the county, or
• Temporarily being housed in county jail while awaiting trial in another crime or attending a hearing in an active civil case.

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. 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.

• Voter registration rolls are not available to the general public.
• Your social security number, your driver license number, and your signature are never provided to anyone requesting information.
• California law allows certain voter information to be released to a member of the California Legislature or U.S. Congress, or to any candidate, any committee for or against a proposed ballot measure, any person for election, scholarly, journalistic, or political purpose, or for governmental purposes.
• Commercial use of voter registration information is prohibited by law and is a misdemeanor.
• If sharing your address could put you in a life-threatening situation then you may qualify for the Safe At Home confidential address program in order to register to vote and vote by mail.
  For more information check What if sharing my address could put me in a life-threatening situation?

What does it take to be a poll worker? You must be

1. A registered California voter or legal resident of the United States.

2. A high school student who

   • Is a United States citizen
   • Is at least 16 years old on Election Day
   • Is attending a public or private high school
   • Has at least a 2.5 grade point average
   • Has permission from parents and school
   • Attends a training session

What does a poll worker do?

1. Sets up and closes a polling place
2. Helps voters understand their rights
3. Protects ballots and voting equipment

Why be a poll worker?

1. Get involved and assist voters
2. Contribute to your community
3. Earn extra money (varies by county)

How do you apply?

Contact your county elections office for an application.

Check out this great opportunity to help your community while earning extra money: be a Vote Center Worker in Merced County!

The Merced County elections office is also actively recruiting bilingual Vote Center Workers who can speak Spanish, Hmong, Punjabi, and Chinese to assist voters on Election Day.

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?”

• A qualified political party is entitled to participate in any primary election or presidential general election.
• A political group may qualify as a party in one of two ways: voter registration or petition.
  • With the voter registration method, the Secretary of State must be able to verify that the political party obtained voter registrations equal in number to .33 percent of the total registration, by the qualification deadline.
  • With the petition method, the petition submitted to the secretary of state must have signatures of registered voters equal to 10 percent of the votes cast at the last gubernatorial election.

What are the qualified political parties in California?

• American Independent Party
• Democratic Party
• Green Party
• Libertarian Party
• Peace and Freedom Party
• Republican Party

For more information, visit the California Secretary of State or read How to Choose a Political Party.

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:

• Examine what the measure seeks to accomplish. Do you agree with these goals?
• Who are the real sponsors and opponents of the measure?
  Check Voter’s Edge California to follow the money for state measures.
• Is the measure written well? Will it create conflicts in law that may require court resolution?
• Does the measure create its own revenue source? Does it earmark, restrict or obligate government revenues?
• Does the measure mandate a government program against the cost of reducing overall flexibility in the budget?
• Does the measure deal with one issue that can be easily decided by a YES or NO vote? Or, is it a complex issue that should be thoroughly examined in the legislative arena?
• If the measure amends the Constitution, consider whether it really belongs in the Constitution.
• Be wary of distortion tactics and commercials that rely on image but tell nothing of substance about the measure. Be aware of half truths.

For more information visit Fast Facts on State Ballot Measures.

Visit Fast Facts: State Taxes and Budget.

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?

• General Obligation Bonds
  These are the most common type of bonds, and are largely repaid from the state's unrestricted general tax revenues. These bonds have to be approved by the voters, and their repayment is guaranteed by the state.
• Revenue Bonds
  These are repaid from a designated source, such as bridge tolls. Revenue bonds do not require voter approval and repayment is not guaranteed by the state.
• Lease-Revenue Bonds
  There are repaid from lease payments by state agencies using the leased facilities. Lease-Revenue bonds do not require voter approval and repayment is not guaranteed by the state.

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) Network is a nonpartisan network of election officials, reform advocates, civil rights organizations, and civic engagement groups collaborating to advance effective and inclusive election policies and practices.

Check out the FoCE Network website to access resources about voter registration, the Voter’s Choice Act, language accessibility, accessibility for voters with disabilities, and design guidelines for voting materials.

Contact the League of Women Voters California Education Fund for additional election information.

Find your local League of Women Voters