Your Rights

  • The right to vote if you are a registered voter even if your name is not on the list. You will vote using a provisional ballot. Your vote will be counted if elections officials determine that you are eligible to vote.
  • The right to vote if you are still in line when the polls close.
  • The right to cast a secret ballot without anyone bothering you or telling you how to vote.
  • The right to ask questions to elections officials about election procedures and watch the election process. If the person can't answer, they must send you to the right person for an answer. If you are disruptive, they can stop answering you.
  • The right to get a new ballot if you have made a mistake, if you have not already cast your ballot.

You can:

    • Ask an elections official at a polling place for a new ballot,
    • Exchange your vote-by-mail ballot for a new one at an elections office, or at your polling place, or
    • Vote using a provisional ballot.
  • The right to get help casting your ballot from anyone you choose, except your employer or union representative.
  • The right to drop off your completed vote-by-mail ballot at any polling place in California.
  • The right to get election materials in a language other than English if enough people in your voting precinct speak that language.
  • The right to report any illegal or fraudulent election activity to an elections official or the Secretary of State’s office.

Voting in California

Register to vote by Same-day voter registration

You can register to vote and vote if you are:

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

All registered voters will receive a ballot by mail

  • Ballot must be postmarked on or before Election Day, and received by your county elections office no later than 17 days after Election Day. In this case, that’s Friday, Nov. 20.

Polls open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. on Election Day.

Do I have to vote on everything?

  • No, you do not have to vote on everything. Your votes still count even if you choose to skip some things on your ballot.

(Section 203 of Voting Rights Act)

Disabilities and Voting

Voting Options:

  • Voting By Mail
  • Remote Accessible Voting by Mail
  • Curbside Voting
  • Accessible Voting Machines
  • Emergency Medical Ballot (Vote Late by Mail)

What is Remote Accessible Vote by Mail (RAVMB)?

  • Allows voters with disabilities to cast their vote privately and independently using their home computer.

What is an Emergency Medical Ballot?

  • Only applicable if you:
    • Not able to vote in person because of a medical emergency
    • Are registered to vote at-least 15 days-before Election Day 
    • It’s less than 7 days before Election Day
    • You would apply in writing for a late, vote-by-mail ballot. This application will need to be provided in person to the county elections office by you, or your representative. 

If you need it, you can have someone help you fill out your ballot. However, they can’t tell you how you should vote. 

Poll locations have wheelchair accessible voting booths, large print instructions, and magnifying glasses available. 

You can find video guides in American Sign Language on the Secretary of State’s website: Voting with Disabilities

Voting Requirements at Poll Location

  • No document needed when voting in person in CA 

(Voting ID Requirements by State

  • However if you are voting for the first time after registering to vote by mail and did not include sufficient proof of identification in the registration process you may be asked to present some form of ID at the Poll location.

 (Possible ID required for First Time Voters)

Acceptable Identification includes

  • State issued identification card
  • Driver’s License
  • Passport
  • Student ID showing your name and photograph
  • Recent utility Bill
  • the sample ballot booklet you received from your county elections office
  • Documents sent to you by a government agency

Displaced & Homeless Voter Registration

Displaced:

  • Update your mailing address before the deadline to ensure you receive your ballot by mail. 
  • If you miss the registration deadline, you may do same-day registration, and both register/update info, and submit your vote on Nov 3rd

Homeless:

  • Fill out Identification section to best of your ability
  • For resident address, put a location to where you spent your most time(parks, cross streets, shelter, etc)
  • For mailing address, you can use a shelter, PO box, or any address you can receive mail

Voting Rights 101

The right to vote if you are a registered voter. You are eligible to vote if you are:

  • a U.S. citizen living in California
  • at least 18 years old
  • registered where you currently live
  • not currently in state or federal prison or on parole for the conviction of a felony
  • not currently found mentally incompetent to vote by a court

Language Accommodations

If voting in-person, bilingual voting assistance is available. 
You are allowed to bring a person of your choice to help with translations
Call the following numbers to find help in your language

Spanish: 1-888-VE-Y-VOTA / 1-888-839-8682
Arabic: 1-844-YALLA-US / 1-844-925-5287
English: 1-866-OUR-VOTE / 1-866-687-8683.
Bengali, Cantonese, Hindi, Urdu, Korean, Mandarin, Tagalog, Vietnamese): 1-888-API-VOTE / 1-888-274-8683