California

Land Acknowledgement

California is the home of 109 federally recognized tribes and rancherias, along with 45 additional tribes seeking federal recognition. It is also the traditional homeland of many tribes.

Overview

You can register to vote in California online, by mail, or in person. California voter registration closes October 24. Same day voter registration is available at specific locations, which will be updated when County Election offices make that information available. All registered voters will receive a mail-in ballot automatically. You do not need a street address or an ID to register to vote. You will, however, have to provide a form of ID when voting if you did not on your registration application.

Key Dates

October 24 - Voter Registration Deadline

November 8 - Election Day!

November 15 - Day by which all mail-in ballots must be received (postmarked on November 8)

Contacts

California Voting Guide

Note: The information below is not legal advice on how to vote. Because voting information is changing rapidly during this election, make sure you check the links provided and check with your state about deadlines and voting specifics.

Registering to Vote

  • The last day to register to vote is October 24. Some same day voter registration is available in person. Find locations where you can same day register.

  • No.

  • To register to vote you will be asked for a California driver's license or State ID, and a Social Security Number. You do not need these things to register. However, if you do not provide one of the above forms of ID on your application, you may be required to present another form of ID when voting for the first time.

    Find more information

  • California does not require an address for registration. If you have a street address where you reside, fill that out on your application. If you do not have a street address, describe where you live including cross streets, Route number, and geographic indicators.

  • You do not need an address. However, you can check if your address is valid online.

  • You do not need an ID to register to vote. However, if you are a first time voter and do not have one of the forms of ID listed here you can get a State ID from a DMV.

  • Yes. Online voter registration can be found on this website.

  • No.

  • Yes. Visit your County Election office and submit a paper voter registration application.

    Find your County Election office information

  • Yes. Pick up a paper voter registration application at your County Election Office, library, DMV, or U.S. Post office. You can also call (800) 345-8683 to request an application be mailed to you.

    Find your County Election office

  • Yes. As long as you are not currently incarcerated and serving a felony sentence you can register to vote.

  • If you have any questions about registering to vote, you can contact your County Election Official, contact your Secretary of State at (916) 657-2166, or call the Voter Hotline at (800) 345-8683.

  • The voter registration deadline is October 24. Some same day voter registration is available in person. Find locations where you can same day register.

  • Yes, under federal law you can assist someone in registering to vote if they do not speak English well, if they have trouble reading or writing, or if they have a disability.

Checking & Updating Voter Registration

  • You can check your voter registration using this website.

  • If you have any questions about checking your voter registration you can contact your County Election Official, contact your Secretary of State at (916) 657-2166, or call the Voter Hotline at (800) 345-8683

  • If you have moved or changed your name, re-register to vote on this website by mail as detailed above.

  • Generally, you do not need to re-register if you have not voted in the last election(s) unless you have changed addresses. However, there are cases in which voter registration can be cancelled, so check your voter status.

Voting by Mail/Absentee/Ballot Drop-Off

  • Mail-in ballots are automatically sent to all registered voters to the address on file from your registration. Ballots must be postmarked by Election Day and received no later than November 15. Anyone can return your ballot for you, just make sure that they sign the ballot and are not being paid on a per-ballot basis.

  • Yes. Please check that you have filled out all required fields and signed your ballot. USPS recommends you mail in your ballot a week before the deadline to ensure your ballot is received on time. However, please factor in your personal experience with mail delivery times to and from your place of residence or where you drop off your ballot.

  • All active registered voters will receive a mail-in ballot.

  • No.

  • Yes. However you do not need to request a mail-in ballot as ballots are mailed to all registered voters.

  • You do not need to request a ballot because mail-in ballots are automatically mailed to all registered voters.

  • California mails out ballots a few weeks before the election.

  • You can have your ballot sent to any mailing address you provide. Ballots will automatically be sent to your residence address or the mailing address you provided on your application. You can update your address online.

  • No.

  • All mail-in ballots must be postmarked on or before Election Day and they must be received by November 15. USPS recommends you mail in your absentee ballot one week prior to the state deadline, but mail in your ballot as soon as possible.

  • Yes. You can return your ballot to a secure ballot drop box, to a voting location, or to your County Election office by 8PM on November 8.

    Find a place to drop off your ballot.

  • Anyone can return your ballot for you, as long as they do not get paid on a per ballot basis. For your ballot to count, you must fill out the authorization section found on the outside of your ballot envelope.

  • No. Ballots may only be sent through USPS.

  • No.

  • Yes. Ballots will be checked to make sure the signature on your ballot matches the signature on file. If your signature does not match, you will be notified a minimum of 8 days prior to certification of the election. You have until 5PM two days before the certification of the election to provide a signature verification statement in person. If you did not sign your ballot envelope, you have until 5PM on the 8th day after the election to submit an unsigned ballot statement.

  • Yes. You can check the status of your ballot or track your ballot and receive notifications on its status.

  • If you have any issues with your mail-in ballot you can contact your County Election Official.

Voting In-Person

  • All polling places are open on Election Day from 7AM to 8PM.

    Find your polling place

    It will also be printed on your county voter information guide. Alternatively, you can contact your County Election office.

  • No.

  • Yes. Early voting beings a few weeks before Election Day. Information about early voting locations is not yet available, but when it is you can find it on this website.

  • No, you do not need a photo ID or other documents to vote unless you are a first time voter or did not provide your California driver's license, State ID card, or Social Security Number when you registered.

    California accepts a variety of IDs to vote. Examples of acceptable forms of personal identification include:

    • a copy of a recent utility bill

    • the county Voter Information Guide you received from your county elections office or another document sent to you by a government agency

    • a copy of your passport; driver's license; California identification card; or student identification card.

    For more information on the type of identification to use when you vote for the first time, review the complete list of acceptable forms of identification, call the Secretary of State's toll-free voter hotline at (800) 345-VOTE (8683), or contact your County Election Official.

  • You can get a California ID card on this website. Check this list of acceptable IDs, as you may already have an acceptable form of ID.

  • No.

  • Yes. Under federal law (Section 208 of the Voting Rights Act), you are entitled to bring anyone you trust, such as a friend, family member, or neighbor, to the polling place AND into the polling booth to assist with voting. However, that person may not be your employer, running in the election, or a representative of your labor union. The person giving assistance also may not tell the voter how to vote.

  • If you have any questions about voting in person you can contact your County Election Official, contact your Secretary of State at (916) 657-2166, or call the Voter Hotline at (800) 345-8683