California Voters: Questions and Answers

IF YOU ARE NOT a California voter, you should contact the elections office in your home county or your home state’s secretary of state’s office for information on how to register and vote.

The last day to register to vote in California is Monday, Oct. 22.

Question: Am I eligible or already registered to vote?

Answer: Check online here: https://lavote.net/secured/voter_reg/. If you aren’t, see below.

Q: How do I register to vote?

A: Your registration to vote must be postmarked or submitted electronically no later than Oct. 22 for the Nov. 6 election. You can apply to register to vote right by filling in the online application (http://registertovote.ca.gov/). You can also pick up a paper voter registration application at your county elections office, library, Department of Motor Vehicles offices, or U.S. post office.

If you have any questions, the California Secretary of State's Elections Division at (800) 345-8683 or by email (http://www.sos.ca.gov/webcontact/general/question.aspx).

If you are not a California voter, you should contact the elections office in your home county or your home state’s secretary of state’s office for information on how to register and vote.

In order to vote as a military or overseas voter, you must complete a Federal Post Card Application (FPCA). Visit the Federal Voting Assistance Program website http://www.fvap.gov/registration/reg-ballot-request-ca.html.

FPCA forms are also available at the Voting Assistance Office of any military base or American Embassy/Consulate offices.  FPCA forms are also available at the Voting Assistance Office of any military base or American Embassy/Consulate offices. Mail your completed FPCA to the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk, Vote By Mail Section, P. O. Box 30450 , Los Angeles , CA 90030-0450. Or download the FPCA here: http://www.fvap.gov/resources/media/fpca.pdf. For instructions on how to complete this form visit the Federal Voting Assistance Program website.

Q: What’s on the ballot?

A: Find your polling place and your sample ballot at the following link: http://www.lavote.net/locator/

Q: Where can I vote?

A: You can find out your polling place address by visiting www.sos.ca.gov/elections/find-polling-place.htm.

Also, when you receive your county sample ballot booklet in the mail a few weeks before Election Day, look for your polling place on the back cover of the booklet.

If you do not receive your sample ballot booklet, contact your county elections office.

You can also call the Secretary of State’s toll-free Voter Hotline at (800) 345-VOTE (8683).

Q: When are the polls open?

A: Polls are open on election days from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. If you are in line at the polling place prior to 8 p.m., you have the right to vote.

Q: What do I need to bring to the polling place?

A: In most cases, California voters are not required to show identification before casting ballots.

If you are voting for the first time after registering by mail and did not provide your driver license number, California identification number, or the last four digits of your social security number on the registration card, you may be asked to show a form of identification when you go to the polls.

Make sure you bring identification with you to the polls or include a copy of it with your vote-by-mail ballot.

Q: What if my name isn’t on the list at my polling place?

A: If your name does not appear on the voter list at your polling place, you have the right to cast a provisional ballot at any polling place in the county in which you are registered to vote.

Provisional ballots are ballots cast by voters who: believe they are registered to vote even though their names do not appear on the official voter registration list; believe the official voter registration list incorrectly lists their political party preference; or
vote by mail but cannot locate their vote-by-mail ballot and instead want to vote at a polling place.

Your provisional ballot will be counted after county elections officials have confirmed that you are registered to vote and did not vote elsewhere in that same election.

Q: May I vote at a polling place other than where I am assigned?

A: It is important to go to the correct polling place; your name will not be on the roster of voters at any other location. However, if you have moved within the same county and did not re-register you may take advantage of "Fail Safe Voting." The detailed instructions (http://ca.lwv.org/lwvc/edfund/elections/e3moved.html) depend upon whether you moved within the last 15 days or not.

If you go to a polling place that is not the one assigned to you, you may ask to vote provisionally (http://smartvoter.org/voter/regvote_polls.html#q7.1c). Only the votes for the candidates and measures on which you were entitled to vote in your assigned precinct will be counted.

Q: Can I vote before Election Day?

A: If you are not a permanent vote-by-mail voter (formerly known as an absentee voter), you still may choose to vote by mail in this election. Your county sample ballot booklet contains an application for a vote-by-mail ballot.

The last day to request a vote-by-mail ballot from your county elections office is October 30.

After you mark your choices on your vote-by-mail ballot, put it in the official envelope provided by your county elections office and seal it. Sign the outside of the envelope where directed.

You may return your voted vote-by-mail ballot by: mailing it to your county elections office; returning it in person to any polling place or elections office within your county on Election Day; or authorizing a legally allowable third party (spouse, child, parent, grandparent, grandchild, brother, sister, or a person residing in the same household as you) to return the ballot on your behalf to any polling place or elections office within your county on Election Day.

Vote-by-mail ballots must be received by county elections offices no later than 8:00 p.m. on Election Day, so be sure to mail your vote-by-mail ballot a few days before Election Day.

Even if you receive your vote-by-mail ballot, you can change your mind and vote at your polling place on Election Day.  If so, you must bring your vote-by-mail ballot to the polling place and give it to a poll worker to exchange for a polling place ballot. If you do not have your vote-by-mail ballot, you will be allowed to vote on a provisional ballot.