CALIFORNIA
Requirements to vote:
18 years old on or by Election Day.
US citizen.
Resident of California.
Not be in federal or state prison.
Nor have been found mentally incompetent in court.
How do I register?
In the state of California, you can register online, via mail, or in person.
To register online, go to http://registertovote.ca.gov/. You will need a California Driver’s License or ID Card, the last four digits of your SSN, and your date of birth.
The deadline to register online is 15 days before Election Day.
To register via mail, call (800) 345-VOTE to receive a paper registration. Mail the form to your county elections official, whose address you can find at: https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voting-resources/county-elections-offices/
Your form must be postmarked 15 days before Election Day.
To register in person, go to a local DMV, post office, public library or government office.
The deadline to register in person is 15 days before Election Day.
You do not have to designate a party affiliation to vote in a primary or general election. However, during the primaries, if you designate a party affiliation, you can only vote on that party’s ballot. If you do not affiliate yourself with a party, you will receive a nonpartisan ballot.
If you legally change your name, move to a new address, or want to change your party affiliation, you must re-register online, submit a new paper registration, or send a signed letter to your county elections official. In this letter, you should inform them of your move and provide them with your date of birth and current address, even if it is in a different county. However, if you have already updated your residence address at the Department of Motor Vehicles or the U.S. Postal Service, your registration will be automatically updated with your new address.
New citizens, new state residents, and conditional voters are able to register past the deadline.
Can I pre-register?
You can pre-register online if you are 16 years old and will be 18 by Election Day.