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Voter and Election Information

How to become a voter and where to vote!

Casting a Ballot in Calfornia

ID Requirements When Voting In-Person

In most cases, voters, including first-time voters, are not required to show ID at the polls. However, it is a good idea for first time voters to bring ID to ensure that your registration was processed correctly. Acceptable ID includes photo ID such as a passport, driver license, official California identification card, or student identification card OR a copy of a recent utility bill, the County Voter Information Guide you received from your County Elections office, or another document sent to you by a government agency.

Voting by Mail

County elections officials mail vote-by-mail ballots to all active registered voters.   Any registered voter may vote using a vote-by-mail ballot (addressed envelopes are provided with your ballot) instead of going to the polls on Election Day. 

Voters may return ballots by:

  • mailing it to your county elections official 
    • Vote-by-mail ballots that are mailed must be postmarked on or before Election Day and received by your county elections office no later than 7 days after Election Day.  
    • If you are not sure your vote-by-mail ballot will arrive in time if mailed, bring it to any polling place in the state between 7:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. on Election Day.
  • returning it in person to any polling place within the state or the office of your county elections official
    • Vote-by-mail ballots that are personally delivered must be delivered no later than the close of polls at 8:00 p.m. on Election Day.
  • dropping your ballot off at a drop-off location or into a ballot drop box within the state
    • Vote-by-mail ballots that are personally delivered to a ballot drop-off location must be delivered no later than the close of polls at 8:00 p.m. on Election Day.
  • authorizing someone to return the ballot on your behalf
    • Anyone may return your ballot for you, as long as they do not get paid on a per ballot basis. In order for your ballot to be counted, you must fill out the authorization section found on the outside of your ballot envelope.

 

Track your ballot by signing up for Ballottrax. You will be informed when it has been mailed to you as well as when it has been received and counted.

Polling places and hours

  • Use the Polling Place Locator to find your polling place
  • For any election, polls in California are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
  • Time off to vote: California Elections Code section 14000 allows workers up to two hours off, without a loss of pay, to vote if they do not have enough time to do so in their non-work hours. The law requires workers to notify their employers two working days before the election if they need to take time off to vote.

As a voter in California, you have rights. Read the Voter Bill of Rights for a full description and more information.

If you believe you have been denied any of these rights, or you are aware of any election fraud or misconduct, please call the Secretary of State's confidential toll-free Voter Hotline at (800) 345-VOTE (8683).

Help For Voters With Disabilities

Assistance for Voters with Disabilities

  • There are statewide Polling Place Accessibility Guidelines meant to guide county elections officials.
  • County elections offices have more information about accessibility of local polling places.
  • Disability Rights California has more information for disabled voters, including a guide to how to start a Voting Accessibility Advisory Committee to work with a county elections office to improve accessibility.
  • Any voter can request to use Remote Accessible Vote-by-Mail (RAVBM). An RAVBM system gives a voter an opportunity to access ballot contests using an online portal. This allows a voter with a disability to read it and mark it using their own assistive technology device.
  • Any registered voter may vote by mail.