Voter Registration
Frequently Asked Questions
This webpage contains information about registering to vote in California. If you have a question that you do not see answered here, please visit our Frequently Asked Questions page.
Are You Already Registered to Vote?
To find out if you are currently registered to vote, visit the Secretary of State's Check Status of Your Voter Registration web page. If you are not registered to vote, you can follow the simple steps below.
Registering to Vote
You may register to vote in California if:
- You are a United States citizen
- You are a resident of California
- You are at least 18 years of age (or will be by the date of the next election)
- You are not in prison or on parole for a felony conviction. For more information on the rights of people who have been incarcerated, please see the Secretary of State's Voting Guide for Currently or Formerly Incarcerated Californians.
- You have not been judged by a court to be mentally incompetent
California Registration Deadlines
| Election Date | Your registration must be postmarked no later than: |
|---|---|
| November 2, 2010 (General Election) | October 18, 2010 |
| November 2, 2010 (Primary, Senate District 1) | October 18, 2010 |
| January 4, 2011 (General, Senate District 1) | December 20, 2010 |
How You Can Register to Vote
Fill Out A Voter Registration Form Now
Simply step through the screens and fill in the information requested on the form. Then print it, sign it, and mail it directly to the county elections office address that is pre-printed on the form. If you have any questions, you may contact the Elections Division atelections@sos.ca.gov or (800) 345-8683.
Multilingual Voter Assistance
For a voter registration form in Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Spanish, Tagalog, and Vietnamese, visit the Secretary of State'sMultilingual Voter Services web page.
Pick Up A Voter Registration Form
You can pick up a voter registration form at your county elections office, library, or U.S. Post Office. It is important that your voter registration form be filled out completely and be postmarked or hand-delivered to your county elections office at least 15 days before the election.
If you are enrolled in California's Confidential Address Program, Safe At Home, please do not attempt to register to vote using this site. To register to vote, contact the Safe At Home program toll free at (877) 322-5227 or by email at safeathome@sos.ca.gov.
Military and Overseas Voter Information
Includes United States Citizens who are members of the Uniformed Services (on active duty) and their eligible dependents, members of the Merchant Marine and their eligible dependents, Commissioner Corps of the Public Health Service, Commissioned Corps of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or United States citizens residing outside the United States.
When to Re-Register to Vote
You will need to re-register to vote when:
- You move to a new permanent residence
- You change your name
- You change your political party choice
As a California voter, you should be aware that in some areas, local elections are held on dates that do not coincide with statewide election dates. The 15-day close of registration deadline for these local elections varies depending on the actual date of the election. If you need to know a deadline for a local election, contact your county elections office.
Voter Registration Deadlines
In California, the deadline to register to vote for an election is 15 days before each local and statewide Election Day, so please register early!
Voter Registration Drives
Anyone distributing voter registration cards in California should be familiar with the rules and regulations for conducting voter registration drives. For information, please read the Secretary of State's Guide to Voter Registration Drives.
Statement of Distribution Form for Voter Registration Cards
Anyone requesting 50 or more voter registration cards from the Secretary of State must complete and submit a Statement of Distribution Form and a plan of distribution to the Secretary of State.
The statement and plan of distribution can be mailed or faxed to:
- California Secretary of State
- Elections Division
- 1500 11th Street, 5th Floor
- Sacramento, CA 95814
- Fax: (916) 653-3214
The Secretary of State's Elections Division will process the request within 48 hours of receiving it. For additional assistance, please contact the Secretary of State's Elections Division at (916) 657-2166.
Report of Registration
The Secretary of State is responsible for producing a statistical report detailing voter registration numbers in California several times per year. To view these reports, please go to Report of Registration.
Additional Assistance
For additional assistance with voter registration, please contact the Secretary of State's office at the following toll-free numbers:
- English: (800) 345-8683
- Chinese: (800) 339-2857
- Japanese: (800) 339-2865
- Korean: (866) 575-1558
- Spanish: (800) 232-8682
- Tagalog: (800) 339-2957
- Vietnamese: (800) 339-8163
