Voting Info —November 6, 2018 —California General Election

Fill out a voter registration form to vote in the November 3, 2020 General Election by Monday, October 19, 2020.

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

1. Sign Up!

• 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 Monday, October 19, 2020.

• 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.
• 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, 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 (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 or other special location. 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.” Your vote will be counted if elections officials determine that you are eligible to vote.
• To vote by mail, use the form in your county Voter Information Guide to request a “vote by mail” ballot to be sent to you. The deadline to ask for one is no later than Tuesday, October 27, 2020. When your “vote by mail” ballot comes, fill it out and mail it back so that it is postmarked no later than the Election Day, November 3. You may also drop it off at any polling place in your county on Election Day. If your county provides them, you can also use a secure Ballot Dropbox. You can sign up to get a “vote by mail” ballot for every election.

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

Check Ways to Vote for more information.

There are big changes as to how you cast your ballot if you live in one of these 15 counties: Amador, Butte, Calaveras, El Dorado, Fresno, Los Angeles, Madera, Mariposa, Napa, Nevada, Orange, Sacramento, San Mateo, Santa Clara, and Tuolumne. You will have more days and more ways to vote! Check Ways to Vote for more information.

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

To register to vote in California, you must be:

• A United States citizen living in California
• 18 years of age or older on Election Day
• No longer in prison or on parole for a felony conviction
• 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.

On the web 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.

Fill out a voter registration form no later than Monday, October 19, 2020 for the Tuesday, November 3, 2020 General Election.

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

• Submitted online no later than Monday, October 19, 2020; or
• Postmarked or hand-delivered to your county elections office no later than Monday, October 19, 2020.

Even if you missed the voter registration deadline, it isn't too late to vote. With Same-Day Voter Registration, you can register up to and on Election Day.

Even if you missed the voter registration deadline, it isn't too late to vote. To register up to and on Election Day, go to your polling location, vote center, or elections office, and complete three simple steps:

1. Register to vote.
2. Vote.
3. Seal your ballot in the provided envelope, and sign it.

You can do this at any polling location in your county, but if you go to the place that you're assigned, then they will be sure to have the ballot with all of your assigned contests.

This is called Conditional Voter Registration (CVR) or Same-Day Registration. Your vote will be counted after elections officials verify your voter registration and confirm that you have not already voted in this election.

Check here to find locations where you can register and vote at the same time - starting early and going all the way up through Election Day!

After the election, check the Secretary of State's website or call 800-345-VOTE (8683) to learn how to see whether your ballot was counted. If it wasn't counted, you'll also be able to see the reason why.

If time permits, your county elections official will contact you when your voter registration application is approved, or if more information is needed to confirm your eligibility.

You can check with your county elections office to make sure you’re registered. Check the status of your voter registration.

The California Secretary of State's online voter registration application is available in:

Español Spanish
中文 Chinese
हिन्दी Hindi
日本語 Japanese
ខ្មែរ Khmer
한국어 Korean
Tagalog
ภาษาไทย Thai
Tiếng Việt Vietnamese

If sharing your address could put you in a life-threatening situation then you may qualify for the Safe At Home confidential address program.

• 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 prison or on parole for the conviction of a felony.

When you register you can choose to have vote-by-mail ballots (“absentee” ballots) automatically sent to you for every election.

If you are already registered, you may also contact your county elections office to change your status to be a permanent vote-by-mail voter.

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

You 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 homeless 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 homeless shelter.

If you live in one of these Voter’s Choice Act counties, there are big changes as to how you vote: Amador, Calaveras, Butte, El Dorado, Fresno, Los Angeles, Madera, Mariposa, Napa, Nevada, Orange, Sacramento, San Mateo, Santa Clara, or Tuolumne.

• You will automatically receive your 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:
  • Mail back your ballot,
  • Drop it off at any secure Ballot Dropbox, or
  • Vote in person at a Vote Center.

Voters in Los Angeles County will not receive your ballot in the mail unless you request one from your County Elections Office.

Find your Vote Center or Ballot Drop Box location here!

In order to receive a ballot in the mail, you must register by the deadline, which is 15 days before an election. The registration deadline for the Tuesday, November 3, General Election is Monday, October 19.

Missed the deadline? You can still register and vote at a Vote Center, all the way up to and including Election Day. For more information on same-day voter registration, check Missed the voter registration deadline? You can still register and vote!

For more information on election changes, check Voter’s Choice Elections and the California Secretary of State.

Note: If you live in one of the new Voter’s Choice Act counties and you are already registered to vote, you will automatically receive your ballot in the mail - unless you are in Los Angeles where you still need to sign up to get a vote by mail ballot. Check Voter’s Choice Elections for more info.

Request a vote-by-mail ballot from your County Elections Office.

Make sure that you send in your request so that it’s received by your county elections office no later than Tuesday, October 27, 2020.

Make future voting easier and apply through your County Elections Office to become a permanent vote-by-mail voter.

Follow the directions to fill out your ballot and envelope.

• 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.
• No stamp? No problem. You do not have to put postage on ballot return envelopes anymore.

Return the ballot:

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

You can assign anyone to drop off your vote-by-mail ballot at a voting location on Election Day. Fill in the information on the return envelope.

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

• Your completed vote-by-mail ballot must be postmarked on or before Election Day, Tuesday, November 3, 2020.
• Once mailed and postmarked, the ballot must be received by the elections office no later than Friday, November 6, 2020.

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

Follow the instructions carefully and sign the envelope

Return the ballot:

1. By mail in the return envelope provided. or
2. Drop it off at a location designated by your county or
3. Drop it off at any voting location e in your county between 7 AM and 8 PM on Election Day.

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

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

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

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. Check with your county for details.

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

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

Polling places are open from 7 AM to 8 PM on Election Day, Tuesday, November 3, 2020.

Vote Centers in the 15 Voter’s Choice Act counties are open before Election Day and will also be open from 7 AM to 8 PM on Election Day.

How do I find my polling place?

• 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.

If you live in one of these Voter’s Choice Act counties, there are big changes as to how you vote. Amador, Calaveras, Butte, El Dorado, Fresno, Los Angeles, Madera, Mariposa, Napa, Nevada, Orange, Sacramento, San Mateo, Santa Clara, or Tuolumne.

If you are registered to vote in any of these counties except Los Angeles County, you will automatically receive a ballot in the mail a few weeks before the election. Voters in Los Angeles County will not receive your ballot in the mail unless you request one from your County Elections Office. Most neighborhood polling places will no longer be used for voting. Instead, you will have three choices for how to vote.

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 3.

When Vote Centers Are Open

All Vote Centers will be open for at least 4 days before Election Day. For the November 3 General Election, this means all Vote Centers will be open from Saturday, October 31, through Tuesday, November 3.

Some Vote Centers will be open for 11 days before Election Day. For the November 3 General Election, some Vote Centers will open starting Saturday, October 24.

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 11 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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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

The Department can also dispatch a head-pointer or a multi-user sip/puff device to a polling place on Election Day upon request. If you would like to request such device to be available at your polling place, 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.

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

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 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

Election materials and ballot facsimiles 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.

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.

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.

Take a look at Do you want to vote for President?

Six political parties are holding presidential primaries:

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

If you are registered with one of these parties, your ballot will include the candidates running for that party’s nomination.

If you are registered with one political party, you may not vote a ballot for another political party.

You can only vote for the County Central Committees/County Councils if you are registered with that party.

If you are not registered with one of the six political parties, or if you registered Decline to State, Independent, or Nonpartisan, then you are a No Party Preference (NPP) Voter. Click here for more detailed information about how to vote if you are registered as No Party Preference.

Please note - the American Independent Party is a political party in California with its own platform. If you are registered with the American Independent Party then you are not registered as a No Party Preference voter.

Three parties allow NPP voters to vote in their presidential primary:

• American Independent Party
• Democratic Party
• Libertarian Party

If you want to vote in one of these party primaries, you must ask for that ballot. Otherwise you will receive a nonpartisan ballot that will not include the office of president.

Three parties allow only voters registered with their party to vote in their presidential primary:

• Green Party
• Peace and Freedom Party
• Republican Party

If you want to change your party registration before the primary, then you should re-register and select that party. The last day to re-register to vote is 15 days before the election. NEW Even if you miss that deadline, with Same-Day registration and voting, you may now change your party registration all the way through Election Day and vote with a provisional ballot.

You can always re-register again after the primary as either a “No Party Preference” voter or with any political party.

Also check Information about political parties. For detailed information on registration check Register to Vote.

For more in-depth information visit Everything you Need to Know About Presidential Primaries and Voting in the Primary Election.

Check out the California Secretary of State’s How to Vote for President.

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 to Vote in a California General Election from the Center for Civic Design and the League of Women Voters of Voters of California Education Fund.

If you’re registered as No Party Preference (NPP) but you want to vote for president in the Green, Peace and Freedom, or Republican parties, then you must re-register and select that party. The last day to re-register to vote is Monday, October 19, 2020.

NEW Now all Californians can Same-Day Register (or re-register), change their political party, and vote with a provisional ballot at every voting location in your county.

If you’re registered as No Party Preference (NPP) but you want to vote for president in the American Independent, Democratic, or Libertarian Party, then here are your options:

Vote-by-Mail

• Apply for a vote-by-mail ballot before October 19, 2020. Download, print and fill out the application.
• Mark box #7 and write in the name of the party on the application.

• Mail the application directly to your county elections office.

  -OR-

• Go to your county elections office or a Vote Center (if your county has them) to request a vote-by-mail ballot.

• Cast your new vote-by-mail ballot as you would any other vote-by mail ballot.
• Note: Return the new vote-by-mail ballot in the envelope that came with the new ballot. Do not use the old ballot or the old envelope. The old ballot is void and will not be counted. A new ballot in an old envelope will also not be counted.

Early In-Person Voting

• Go to your county elections office or a vote Center (if your county has them) before November 3.
• Request the ballot of the party you wish to vote in.
• Note: If you have a vote-by-mail ballot take it and its return envelope with you to give it to the elections officials. If you do not bring the old ballot and envelope, you will receive a provisional ballot that will be counted after it is confirmed that your old ballot was not cast.

At the Polls on Election Day, November 3, 2020

• Go to your polling place or your county elections office.
• Request the ballot of the party you wish to vote in.
• Note: If you have a vote-by-mail ballot take it and its return envelope with you to give it to the elections officials. If you do not bring the old ballot and envelope, you will receive a provisional ballot that will be counted after it is confirmed that your old ballot was not cast.

If you re-registered after you received a vote-by-mail ballot:

• If you re-registered after receiving a vote-by-mail ballot, and you asked for vote-by-mail status during the re-registration, then a new vote-by-mail ballot will be mailed to you.
• Return the new vote-by-mail ballot in the envelope that came with the new ballot. Do not use the old ballot or the old envelope. The old ballot is void and will not be counted. A new ballot in an old envelope will also not be counted.
• Mail your ballot. Be sure it is postmarked on or before November 3, 2020.
  -OR-
• Drop off your vote-by-mail ballot in person on Election Day at any polling place in your county or your county elections office.

For more information, check the California Secretary of State.

• 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.

In order to vote in the November 3 General Election, you must register to vote no later than Monday, October 19, 2020.

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

• Submitted online no later than Monday, October 19;
• OR postmarked or hand-delivered to your county elections office no later than Monday, October 19.

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, October 27, 2020.

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

Before Election Day

Both vote-by-mail and early-in-person voting start Monday, October 5, 2020 and go through Election Day, Tuesday, November 3, 2020.

By Mail

From Monday, October 5 through Election Day, Tuesday, November 3.

• Your completed vote-by-mail ballot must be postmarked on or before Election Day, Tuesday, November 3.
• Once mailed and postmarked, the ballot must be received by the elections office Friday, November 6.

Early-in-person

From Monday, October 5 through Monday, November 2. Some early voting locations are also open through Election Day.

On Election day

Tuesday, November 3, from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

For more detailed information check Ways to Vote.

Your county may have an election at various times over the course of a year. Check for election dates, voter registration, and vote-by-mail deadlines in your area.

You have the following rights:

1. The right to vote if you are a registered voter.
You are eligible to vote if you are:

• 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!

Your County Elections Office
Contact your County Elections Office to get any voting problem resolved quickly.

The California Secretary of State
If you believe you have been denied any of your voting rights, or you are aware of any election fraud or misconduct, you can call the Secretary of State's confidential toll-free Voter Hotline at (800) 345-VOTE (8683).

Election Protection
If you encounter any issues in casting your ballot, or feel like your rights were violated, visit the Election Protection website or call one of the hotlines below to get help resolving your dispute and reporting your claim.

English: 866-OUR-VOTE (866-687-8683)

Spanish & English: 888-Ve-Y-Vota (888-839-8682)

Download Prepare. Know Your Rights. Vote. in Spanish and English. For more information, check ya es hora ¡VE Y VOTA!

Chinese, Vietnamese, Korean, Bengali, Urdu, Hindi, and Filipino/Tagalog: 888-API-VOTE (888-274-8683)

Download Know your Voting Rights from Asian Americans Advancing Justice, California.

Check here for more information about Election Protection and the hotline schedule.

Disability Rights California

Voice: 1-888-569-7955
TTY: 1-800-719-5798
California Relay Service: Dial 711

Disability Rights California will explain your rights, work to resolve a problem, and help file a complaint If you have a disability and:

• 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

Download and print the hotline for voters with disabilities one-pager.

For more information 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.

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 in 13 languages.
Get information about your rights in eleven languages from Asian Americans Advancing Justice, California. The materials will help first-time voters, immigrant voters, and limited-English proficient voters exercise their right to vote on Election Day. They have instructions on how to register to vote, how to vote, how to access language assistance in the voting process, and how to handle problems encountered during Election Day, among other subjects.

Arabic
Chinese
English
Farsi
Hindi
Hmong
Cambodian/Khmer
Korean
Punjabi
Spanish
Tagalog
Tongan
Vietnamese

For more information visit the California Secretary of State.

What are my voting rights if I have a misdemeanor?
A misdemeanor conviction does not affect your right to vote at all. You can vote in all elections.

What are my voting rights if I have a felony?
If you have a felony conviction, you can vote IF you:

• 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.

• 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 Poll Worker in San Francisco County!

Additionally, bilingual poll workers are integral to ensuring language access throughout San Francisco polling places. Bilingual speakers of Chinese, Spanish, Filipino, Korean, or Vietnamese are encouraged to apply.

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.

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.

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) is a collaboration between election officials, civil rights organizations and election reform advocates to examine and address the unique challenges facing the State of California’s election system.

Visit the Voter Experience Index. This informative set of tools was developed to improve the voter experience. It is a collection of research, publications and “how-to” guides produced by members of Future of California Elections and partners.

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

Find your local League of Women Voters