Voting Info —November 6, 2018 —California General Election

Register to Vote

Fill out a voter registration form no later than 15 days before the election.

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!

You are eligible to vote if you are a U.S. citizen, 18 years or older, no longer in prison or on parole for a felony conviction, and have not been found by a court to be mentally incompetent.
You must register to get on the official list of voters in your county. The deadline to register is 15 days before the 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 on parole for a felony conviction.

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.
Or Dropoff. You may drop off your ballot at any voting location in your county. Your county may also open secure ballot drop box locations starting about a month before Election Day.
Or In Person. For voting in person on Election Day, 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 for more voting information and to download a copy in English, Spanish, Chinese, Vietnamese, or Korean.

Can I register to vote?

How do I register to vote?

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 the disabled.

When should I register to vote?

Fill out a voter registration form no later than 15 days before Election Day.

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

Submitted online no later than 15 days beofre the election; or
Postmarked or hand-delivered to your county elections office no later than 15 days before the election.

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.

Missed the voter registration deadline? You can still register and vote!

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.

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.

What happens after I submit my registration form?

What if I need language assistance?

Once I am registered to vote do I ever have to register again?

What is a permanent vote-by-mail voter?

Do I have to register as a member of a political party?

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.

How do I register if I am military, overseas, or I live abroad?

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?

How do I register if I am a college student?

Can I register if I am homeless?

Ways to Vote

Big Changes - Every Registered Voter in California Will Be Mailed a Ballot

This year you have options to vote safely and easily. The biggest change is that 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. It will be set up for safe voting, following health and safety guidelines for COVID-19.

Get ready for your mailed ballot

Register to vote no later than 15 days before the election 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 voterstatus.sos.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!

Vote by Mail

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.

Follow the directions on the ballot to mark your choices.
Check that you are using the return envelope with your name on it.
Put your ballot into the envelope & seal. Only 1 ballot in each envelope.

Sign and date the envelope

Date and sign your name on the back of the envelope using ink.
Check your signature to make sure it looks like the one on file.
- 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? Re-register with your updated signature.

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.

Your completed vote-by-mail ballot must be postmarked by the United States Postal Service on or before Election Day.
Once mailed and postmarked, the ballot must be received by the elections office no later than 3 days after Election Day.

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.

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

Drop Off Your Ballot

Vote Early In Person

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: Amador, Butte, Calaveras, El Dorado, Fresno, Madera, Mariposa, Los Angeles, Napa, Nevada, Orange, Sacramento, San Mateo, Santa Clara, and Tuolumne. For more information check the California Secretary State.

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

Vote In Person on Election Day

Your voting location may be different this year. Counties are working to provide the best options for safe, socially distanced, in-person voting. Please wear a mask when you vote in person!

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 Election Day.
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: Amador, Butte, Calaveras, El Dorado, Fresno, Madera, Mariposa, Los Angeles, Napa, Nevada, Orange, Sacramento, San Mateo, Santa Clara, and Tuolumne. For more information check the California Secretary State.

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.
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.

Voting Basics

Where's My Ballot?

Signatures for Mail Ballots - Double Check and Update!

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.

Check your signature to make sure it looks like the one the elections office has on file.

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? 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 a limited number of days 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.

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.

Do I have to show identification to vote?

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.

What if I am not on the list of voters at my polling place?

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.

How do I correct a voting mistake?

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 at a polling place 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 (Amador, Butte, Calaveras, El Dorado, Fresno, Los Angeles, Madera, Mariposa, Napa, Nevada, Orange, Sacramento, San Mateo, Santa Clara, and Tuolumne). As long as you haven’t already voted, you can get a regular ballot at a Vote Center without turning in your vote-by-mail ballot.

Where do I vote if I am registered but moved within California?

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?

How do I vote if I am military, overseas, or live abroad?

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.

Why am I in a mail-only precinct?

How do I vote if I have disabilities?

Disability Rights California (DRC) will operate a toll-free hotline on Election Day for voters with disabilities. The service is designed to help those who have difficulty accessing polling places, casting ballots or simply have questions about voting. The toll-free number for voice calls is 888-569-7955. The statewide number for video calls is 800-719-5798.

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

Accessible information

The state Official Voter Information Guide that is mailed to each registered voter is available in a downloadable MP3 audio version, audio cassettes, in American Sign Language, and in large print. You may call (800) 345-8683 to request these versions.

The California Secretary of State also maintains a Voter Hotline for voters who are deaf, hard of hearing, or speech-impaired at: (800) 833-8683 - TTY/TDD

Accessible voting places

Before each election, registered voters are notified as to whether or not their polling places are accessible. This notification appears on the Voter Information Guide mailed by your county.

Signing in at the polling place

You can vote even if you can't sign your name!

Accessible voting machines

Each polling place must have one voting machine that allows voters, including those who are blind or visually impaired, to cast a ballot without assistance.

The voting machine permits voters to privately and independently verify vote choices and, if there is an error, allows them to correct those choices before submitting their final ballot.

Voting Assistance

You may choose up to two people to help in the polling place. However, the person who provides assistance may not be:

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.

How do I vote in San Francisco if I have disabilities?

Visit San Francisco Accessible Voting and Services for more information.

Accessible vote-by-mail is a ballot delivery option that allows voters with disabilities to access their ballot using any computer with internet access. Voters can use their assistive devices to read and mark the ballot outside of a polling place, and then print and return it to the Department of Elections. Visit Accessible Vote-by-Mail for more information.

Accessible Voting Places

To confirm whether your polling place has an accessible entrance and voting area, check the back cover of your Voter Information Pamphlet for the international symbol of access, use the Polling Place and Sample Ballot Lookup Tool, or call (415) 554-4375. Teletypewriter (TTY) users may also call (415) 554-4386.

If your polling place is not accessible, you may choose to vote at a nearby accessible polling place. Use the Polling Place and Sample Ballot Lookup Tool or contact the Department to find the nearest accessible polling place that has the same ballot as your precinct.

Any voter who cannot access a polling place or the City Hall Voting Center may request to vote “curbside.” A voter can either call (415) 554-4375 (TTY 415-554-4386) or have a passenger or a friend enter the polling place or the City Hall Voting Center and give the voter’s information to a poll worker or a staff member.

Accessible Voting Equipment

All polling places and Voting Centers have

accessible ballot-marking devices, which are compatible with a number of assistive devices
large-print instructions on how to mark a ballot
optical sheets to magnify the print
pen attachments to make the writing utensils easier to grip
headphones and audio instructions in English, Cantonese, Mandarin, Spanish, and Filipino

The Department can also dispatch a head-pointer or a multi-user sip/puff device to a polling place on Election Day upon request. Please contact the Department at (415) 554-4375 or TTY (415) 554-4386.

Accessible Voter Information Pamphlet

The San Francisco Voter Information Pamphlet is available in additional accessible formats, including a large-print booklet, audiocassette, and thumb-drive (MP3 audio). To request the Pamphlet in one of these formats, call (415) 554-4375 or TTY (415) 554-4386.

How do I vote if I speak a language other than English?

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.

How do I vote in San Francisco if I speak a language other than English?

How do I vote if I speak a language other than English?

The San Francisco County Department of Elections website, Voter Information Pamphlet and election materials, including ballots, are available in:

中文/Chinese
Español/Spanish
Tagalog/Filipino

To receive your ballot, Voter Information Pamphlet, and other election materials in 中文/Chinese, Español/Spanish, and Tagalog/Filipino, use the Voter Portal.

Election materials and translated sample ballots (fascimiles) are available at each polling place in these languages:

한국어/Korean
Tiếng Việt/Vietnamese

Telephone assistance is available in 200 languages Monday through Friday 8 AM to 5 PM, during the two weekends prior to Election Day from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, and from 7 AM to 8 PM on Election Day.

English & request for other languages: 415-554-4375
中文/Chinese: 415-554-4367
Español/Spanish: 415-554-4366
Tagalog/Filipino: 415-554-4310

For more information on language assistance contact the San Francisco County Department of Elections.

Are emergency ballots available if I can’t get to the polls on Election Day?

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.

If you don’t have a form, then make sure that the request authorizes a particular person to bring you the ballot and is signed under the penalty of perjury.
You can use this Los Angeles County Emergency Vote-by-Mail Application sample request as a guide to help you write a request to your county.
Mark the ballot as directed. For detailed instructions check How do I vote by mail?
Return the ballot and envelope personally, or through your authorized representative, to either the county elections office or any polling place in your county.

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

For more information and sample requests, visit Disability Rights California.

What is ranked choice voting?

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 in English or Spanish and their info cards in English, Spanish, and Chinese. You can also read or listen to the Ranked Choice FAQs from the Alameda County Registrar’s office.

Voting in the November General Election

How do I write in a candidate?

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.

What is a special election?

What is a recall election?

What is an initiative?

What is a referendum?

Important Dates and Deadlines

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.

When is the voter registration deadline?

In order to vote in the election, you must register to vote no later than 15 days before the election.

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

Submitted online no later than 15 days before the election;
OR postmarked or hand-delivered to your county elections office no later than 15 days before the election.

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.

When is the vote-by-mail application deadline?

When do I vote?

Before Election Day

Both vote-by-mail and early-in-person voting start 29 days before Election Day and last through Election Day.

By Mail

From 29 days before Election Day through Election Day.

Your completed vote-by-mail ballot must be postmarked on or before Election Day.

Once mailed and postmarked, the ballot must be received by the elections office no later than 3 days after Election Day.

Early-in-person

You can always vote early at your County Elections Office starting 29 days before Election Day. Some counties will have more voting locations open before Election Day. Check caearlyvoting.sos.ca.gov for locations and hours.

On Election day

Election Day, from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

For more detailed information check Ways to Vote.

Local Election Dates & Deadlines

My Rights as a Voter

California's Voter Bill of Rights

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 in prison or on parole for 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!

Reporting problems: Help is just a phone call away

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:

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

Rights of voters with disabilities

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.

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

Rights of voters to language assistance

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 in 16 languages.
Get information about your rights in sixteen 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.

Amharic
Arabic
Chinese Simplified
Chinese Traditional
English
Farsi
Hindi
Hmong
Japanese
Cambodian/Khmer
Korean
Lao
Punjabi
Spanish
Tagalog
Tongan
Vietnamese

For more information visit the California Secretary of State.

Rights of people with criminal convictions

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
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
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 prison, or
Are serving an 1170(h) felony sentence in county jail, or
Are awaiting transfer to a state prison, or
Are on parole.

Once you have completed your sentence and parole, you can register to vote. If you are unsure what type of sentence you are serving check with your parole or probation officer.

Can I vote when I am on parole?
No. You can only vote once you have completed your parole.

Can I vote on mandatory supervision?
Yes! You can vote at all times when you are on mandatory supervision.

Can I vote while I am on post-release community supervision?
Yes! You can vote at all times when you are on post-release community supervision.

Can I vote when I am on probation?
Yes! You can vote at all times when you are on probation, whether your conviction is a felony or a misdemeanor

Can I vote while I am in county jail?
Maybe. You can vote IF you are in county jail:

Awaiting trial for any crime, or
For a misdemeanor conviction, or
On a probation violation, or
On felony probation.

The only time you lose the right to vote while in county jail is when you are:

In state prison for a felony conviction, or
In jail awaiting transfer to a state prison for a felony conviction, or
Serving an 1170(h) felony sentence in the county jail, or
In jail for a parole violation.

How do I get back my right to vote?
In California, you do not need to do anything to “restore” your right to vote. It is automatically restored once you have completed your sentence and are no longer on parole. However, you must register or re-register to vote in an upcoming election.

For more information visit Let Me Vote.
Download brochures in English and in Spanish.
You can also download and print Let Me Vote palm cards in English and Spanish.

Is voter registration information confidential?

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?

More Voting Info

Be an Election Day Poll Worker in California

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
- 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?

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

Why be a poll worker?

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

How do you apply?

Contact your county elections office for an application.

Be an Election Day Poll Worker in San Francisco County

Interactive map of County Elections Offices

Information about political parties

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.

How do I find out what political districts I live in?

Evaluating state ballot measures

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.

Evaluating California budget and taxes

What are bonds?

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.