Frequently Asked Questions

Am I registered to vote?

To be eligible to register to vote in California, you must be:

  • A United States citizen and a resident of California,
  • 18 years old or older on Election Day,
  • Not currently in state or federal prison or on parole for the conviction of a felony, and
  • Not currently found mentally incompetent to vote by a court.

To check the status of your voter registration, visit voterstatus.sos.ca.gov.

What if I forgot to register to vote or update my registration?

No Problem! A new law allows you to register to vote and vote until 8:00 p.m. on Election Day at your county elections office or at any vote center or polling place in your county. This process is called Conditional Voter Registration (CVR) and is commonly referred to as Same Day Voter Registration.

Here's how it works:

  1. Visit your county elections office, a vote center, or polling place in your county which can be found in your county Voter Information Guide or at vote.ca.gov.
  2. Complete a voter registration card.
  3. Vote your ballot at your county elections office, vote center, or polling place.
  4. Once the county elections official processes your registration and determines you are eligible, you will be registered to vote and your ballot will be counted.
  5. Check if your ballot was counted by visiting voterstatus.sos.ca.gov. County elections offices have up until 60 days after Election Day to provide this information.

Where can I learn about candidates and propositions?

Check out your county Voter Information Guide for information about local candidates and measures. You may also go to propositions for more information.

California's voluntary campaign spending limits do not apply to candidates for federal offices including President, U.S. Senate, and the U.S. House of Representatives. All U.S. House of Representatives candidates may buy space for a candidate statement in county Voter Information Guides. Some candidates, however, choose not to buy space for a statement.

State Senate and Assembly candidates may buy space for a candidate statement in the county Voter Information Guides if they agree to keep their campaign spending under a certain dollar amount. State Senate candidates may spend no more than $930,000 in the primary election. State Assembly candidates may spend no more than $620,000 in the primary election.

To fnd the statements from Presidential candidates, visit the Secretary of State's website at vote.ca.gov.

To research campaign contributions for state and local candidates, visit the Secretary of State's website at powersearch.sos.ca.gov.

To research campaign contributions for Presidential and Congressional candidates, visit the Federal Election Commission website at www.fec.gov.

On the Secretary of State's website you can also:

  • Research campaign contributions and lobbying activity
  • View this voter guide in other languages
  • Check your registration status and registration information
  • Find your polling place or a vote center on Election Day
  • Get vote-by-mail ballot information
  • Read helpful information for first-time voters
  • Watch live election results after polls close on Election Day
  • Learn about exciting election improvements in Amador, Butte, Calaveras, El Dorado, Fresno, Los Angeles, Madera, Mariposa, Napa, Nevada, Orange, Sacramento, San Mateo, Santa Clara, and Tuolumne counties

Where do I vote?

Every county has polling places or vote centers open on Election Day. Many counties also have in-person, early voting locations. To find out the options in your county, visit vote.ca.gov or check your county Voter Information Guide.

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

You can also text Vote to GOVOTE (468683) to find the location of your polling place.

If you live in Amador, Butte, Calaveras, El Dorado, Fresno, Los Angeles, Madera, Mariposa, Napa, Nevada, Orange, Sacramento, San Mateo, Santa Clara, or Tuolumne County, you can vote in any vote center in your county. Visit voterschoice.sos.ca.gov or Voter's Choice Act for more information.

How do I vote by mail?

Any registered voter can vote by mail. You must request a vote-by-mail ballot from your county elections office at least 7 days before the election. Please see County Election Offices for your county's contact information. You can also register as a permanent vote-by-mail voter, and a ballot will automatically be mailed to you prior to each election.

If you live in Amador, Butte, Calaveras, El Dorado, Fresno, Madera, Mariposa, Napa, Nevada, Orange, Sacramento, San Mateo, Santa Clara, or Tuolumne County, a vote-by-mail ballot will automatically be mailed to you. Visit voterschoice.sos.ca.gov or Voter's Choice Act for more information.

How much is postage for vote by mail?

No stamp, no problem! Postage for vote-by-mail envelopes is pre-paid by the county and free for all voters in California.

How can I return my vote-by-mail ballot?

After marking your choices on your vote-by-mail ballot, place it in the official envelope provided by your county elections office and seal it. Sign the envelope where directed. You have multiple options for returning your ballot.

To ensure your ballot arrives by the deadline, return it either:

  • By mail—must be postmarked on or before March 3 and received by your county elections office no later than March 6. No postage is required!
  • In person—drop off at your county elections office, any vote center or polling place in California, or any ballot drop-off location before the polls close at 8:00 p.m. on March 3.
  • State law gives voters the freedom to designate anyone they choose to return their vote-by-mail ballots. However, we recommend that you only sign your completed ballot over to someone you trust. Never hand over your vote-by-mail ballot if you have not sealed and signed the back of the return envelope provided by your county elections office.

If I am signed up to vote by mail, can I still vote in person?

Even if you signed up to vote by mail, you can still vote in person at your polling place on Election Day. 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 and envelope, you may have to vote using a provisional ballot. This ensures that you have not already cast a ballot. (See Provisional Voting for more information about provisional ballots.)

Can voters with disabilities vote by mail?

All county elections officials are required to offer an accessible option called remote accessible vote-by-mail (RAVBM). RAVBM allows 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 official to see if this option is offered in your county.

How do I know the county received my vote-by-mail ballot?

Check if your ballot was counted by visiting voterstatus.sos.ca.gov. County elections offices have up until 60 days after Election Day to provide this information.

Some county elections offices have signed up for the Secretary of State's new program to track your vote-by-mail ballot. Visit vote.ca.gov to learn about tracking your ballot.

Can I get time off from work to vote?

All employees are eligible for paid time off for the purpose of voting if they do not have enough time outside of working hours to vote.

Employees can be given as much time as they need in order to vote, but only a maximum of two hours is paid. Employers may require employees to give advance notice that they will need additional time off for voting. Employers may require time off to be taken only at the beginning or end of the employee's shift.

If you have questions, call the Secretary of State's toll-free Voter Hotline at (800) 345-VOTE (8683).

Do I need to show ID to vote?

In most cases, California voters do not have to show identification before they vote.

You may have to show one form of identification at the polling place if you are voting for the first time after registering by mail or online and you did NOT provide the following on your application:

  • State-issued driver license or identification number, or
  • The last four digits of your social security number

Following are some of the acceptable types of identification according to state and federal laws:

  • Driver license or state-issued identification
  • Passport
  • Employee identification
  • Military identification
  • Student identification
  • Health club identification
  • Insurance plan identification
  • Credit card or debit card

For the full list, see “Polling Place ID Requirements” at sos.ca.gov/elections/hava-id-standards.

How can I help?

Participate as a Poll Worker! Gain hands-on experience and take part in the single most important part of our democracy—voting!

To serve as a poll worker, you must be:

  • A U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident, or
  • An eligible high school student

Poll workers:

  • Set up and close a polling place
  • Help voters understand their rights
  • Protect ballots and voting equipment
  • Earn extra money (amount varies by county)
  • Contribute to their community and meet their neighbors

To serve as a high school poll worker, a student must:

  • Be a U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident
  • Be at least 16 years old on Election Day
  • Attend a public or private high school
  • Have at least a 2.5 grade point average
  • Get permission from their parents and school
  • Attend a training session

For more information about being a poll worker, contact your county elections office, call the California Secretary of State at (800) 345-VOTE (8683), or visit vote.ca.gov.

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