Early voting is taking place in several states, including California, as California Secretary of State Shirley N. Weber encourages residents to vote early.
“California voters are no longer limited to a single day of voting. Why wait in line on Election Day when you have early voting options?” Weber said in a statement. “Once you receive your ballot, complete it, and sign the back of the envelope. Then, you can return it by mail, drop box, or at any early voting location.”
Here’s what Californians need to know about early voting.
Early voting sites opened statewide on Oct. 7. To find an early voting location, visit CAEarlyVoting.sos.ca.gov or contact your county elections office.
Voting by mail
All registered voters in the state received a vote-by-mail ballot ahead of Election Day.
If you choose to vote by mail, the ballot must be postmarked on or before Nov. 5. You can drop off a vote-by-mail ballot at any polling place in California or at the office of your county election official before polls close at 8 p.m. on Election Day.
A list of polling places with the state can be found here.
Residents can also visit WheresMyBallot.sos.ca.gov to be notified when their ballot was mailed, received, and counted.
How can I check if I am registered to vote?
If you are unsure whether you are registered to vote, visit voterstatus.sos.ca.gov. The website will ask for personal information to determine whether you are registered to vote, where you registered, your party preference, the status of your vote-by-mail or provisional ballot and more.
How do I register to vote in California?
Residents can register to vote online at registertovote.ca.gov. The website is for California residents who want to vote before the upcoming election and those aged 16 to 17 who wish to pre-register before their 18th birthday.
Residents should have their California driver’s license or ID card and Social Security card nearby during registration. For those who don’t have a state-issued license or ID, additional steps will be taken to complete your registration.
The deadline to register to vote is Oct. 21, but California does allow same-day voter registration. More information about that can be found here.
To register to vote in California, a person must be:
A U.S. citizen and a resident of California
18 years old or older on Election Day
Not currently serving a state or federal prison term for a felony conviction
Not currently found mentally incompetent to vote by a court
Important election dates and deadlines for California voters
Ballot drop-off locations will open on Oct. 21
Election Day. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. throughout the state: Nov. 5
Vote‐By‐Mail Ballots returned by mail, in order to be counted, must be postmarked on or before Election Day and received by your county elections office: Nov. 12
Last day for county elections officials to certify election results: Dec. 5
Early voting is taking place in several states, including California, as California Secretary of State Shirley N. Weber encourages residents to vote early. “California voters are no longer limited to a single day of voting. Why wait in line on Election Day when you have early voting options?” Weber said in a statement. “Once you […]
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