If you are registered to vote, you will automatically receive your ballot in the mail. Most neighborhood polling places will no longer be used for voting.
Instead, you have 3 ways to vote:
- By mail
- At a vote center
- Using a ballot dropbox
If you are registered to vote, you will automatically receive your ballot in the mail. Most neighborhood polling places will no longer be used for voting.
Instead, you have 3 ways to vote:
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!
For more information, check Can I Register To 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.
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.
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.
Online 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 people with disabilities.
Fill out a voter registration form no later than October 24, 2022.
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.
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.
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:
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 unhoused or experiencing homelessness if:
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
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!
Mail your ballot back early! You can fill it in and mail it back as soon as you receive it.
No stamp? No problem. You do not need a stamp to mail back your ballot in the envelope provided.
Mark your ballot and seal it inside the envelope provided.
Sign and date the envelope
You can assign anyone to drop off your ballot at a voting location on Election Day. Fill in the information on the return envelope.
Return your ballot early.
If you mail your ballot back, don’t delay.
NEW - Track your Ballot! Sign up at wheresmyballot.sos.ca.gov or call 800-345-VOTE (8683) to find out where your ballot is in the process and when it has been accepted.
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.
For details and locations check caearlyvoting.sos.ca.gov.
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
Check here for a list of early voting and ballot drop-off locations in your county.
At in-person Voting Locations you can:
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
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. 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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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:
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. 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.
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:
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.
Please call the San Diego County Registrar of Voters (858) 565-5800 if you have questions about accessible voting in San Diego County. More information about accessibility can be found at the Registrar of Voters' accessible voting website
San Diego County provides voting locations accessible for all people, regardless of ability. See if your poll is wheelchair accessible by looking at the back of your Sample Ballot Pamphlet: there will be a YES or NO printed below the blue accessibility symbol. If it says NO, you may call (858) 565-5800 to learn about voting methods that will work best for you. You may also request to have a ballot brought to an accessible location near your poll.
At any polling location that is determined inaccessible or that you are unable to enter, you may vote curbside:
All polling locations have an accessible ballot marking device. Features include:
Poll workers also have signature guide cards and magnifying sheets for voters with visual impairments.
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. To learn more about using an accessible vote-by-mail ballot, click here.
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. 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.
In compliance with federal law and local ordinance, the Registrar of Voters provides services and official election materials to voters in English, 中文/Chinese, Español /Spanish, Tagalog/Filipino, and Tiếng Việt/Vietnamese.
The Registrar of Voters website is available in four languages, besides English:
Call (858) 565-5800 to request election materials in Español/Spanish, Tagalog/Filipino, Tiếng Việt/Vietnamese, or 中文/Chinese
-OR-
Complete and return this form to request translated materials.
اَلْعَرَبِيَّةُ/Arabic, 한국어/Korean, 日本語/Japanese, and ພາສາລາວ/Laotian facsimile (non-official) ballots are available at certain polling locations, which can be found here.
Additional information can be found on the Language Assistance website.
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, 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:
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:
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.
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.
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 November 8 General Election, you must register to vote no later than Monday, October 24.
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.
Now every registered voter gets a ballot mailed without any need to send in an application. However, if you register to vote after the Monday, October 24 deadline and would like to vote by mail, it is best to try to register no later than November 1 to allow your elections office to mail you a ballot in time. You should also contact your elections office to let them know you registered late and would like a ballot mailed to you.
For detailed information, check How do I vote by mail?
Both vote-by-mail and early-in-person voting start Monday, October 10, 2022. (Note that some county elections offices will be closed on October 10 for a state holiday.)
From Monday, October 10* through Election Day, Tuesday, November 8.
- Your completed vote-by-mail ballot must be postmarked on or before Election Day, Tuesday, November 8
- Once mailed and postmarked, the ballot must be received by the elections office no later than Tuesday, November 15
You can vote early at your County Elections Office from Monday, October 10, through Monday, November 7. Some early voting locations are also open through Election Day. (Note that some county elections offices will be closed on October 10 for a state holiday.) Check caearlyvoting.sos.ca.gov for locations and hours.
Tuesday, November 8, 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
Contact your County Elections Office to get any voting problem resolved quickly.
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).
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:
How To Vote
Language Access
Check here for more information about Election Protection.
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:
For more information for voters with disabilities, 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. 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.
Know your rights in additional languages.
Get information about your rights in additional 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.
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, 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:
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:
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.
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 Vote Center Worker in San Diego County!
San Diego County also has a special need for bilingual poll workers fluent in the following languages:
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 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:
For more information visit Fast Facts on State Ballot Measures.
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) 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.
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.