Voting FAQ

Yes.

You can do so online here. You’ll need the same information as above.

If DMV has your signature on file, you’ll be able to complete the process online. If not, you’ll need to print, sign and mail your completed application to your county elections office. You can also pick up a paper application at elections offices, any DMV office and at many post offices, public libraries and government offices. You’ll be contacted when your application is approved, or if you need to provide more information.

The last day to register online for the general election is Oct. 24. If you are registering or re-registering less than 15 days before Nov. 8, you must complete same-day voter registration and request your ballot in person at your county elections office or polling location.

You’ll need to re-register to vote.

The Secretary of State’s office has voter instructions in the following languages: Spanish, Hindi, Chinese, Japanese, Khmer, Korean, Tagalog, Thai, Vietnamese. Your county elections website may have additional languages. 

The statewide voter information guide will be available online on Sept. 9. The Secretary of State’s office will mail it to voters between Sept. 29 and Oct. 18. County election offices will mail their local guides during the same time. Voter guides will be available in audio and large-print.

Yes. In September 2021, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed into law a bill that makes vote-by-mail ballots permanent for every registered voter. 

Counties will begin mailing ballots by Oct. 10. 

• Mail it to your county elections official
• Drop it off at a ballot drop box or location or at a polling location anywhere in the state
• You can also ask someone you trust to return your ballot for you, but the Secretary of State’s office cautions that the person can only do so if they don’t get paid by the ballot

Yes. California is one of 30 states that requires time off for voting. You can take as much time as you need, but employers are only required to pay for a maximum of two hours.

Employers may require advance notice. The time off must be at the beginning or the end of your shift. Employers are required to post a notice about this 10 days before a statewide election.

Eight statewide offices: governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, controller, treasurer, attorney general, insurance commissioner and superintendent of public instruction, plus Board of Equalization. Also, U.S. House member, state senator (depending on your district) and state Assemblymember. The U.S. Senate race will appear twice on your ballot – once for the term that ends Jan. 3, 2023, and once for the full term that expires Jan. 3, 2029. And local offices, depending where you live.

You’ll also be voting on seven ballot measures.

Six parties qualified for the primary: Democratic, Republican, American Independent, Green, Libertarian and Peace and Freedom. Some candidates are also running with no party preference.

The state constitution doesn’t allow write-in candidates for voter-nominated state offices in the general election, except for the Superintendent of Public Instruction because it is a nonpartisan office. That’s because of the top-two primary system implemented in 2012, which says that the only way to qualify for the general election ballot is to be one of the top two vote-getters in the primary,

You can sign up here to check if your vote was counted and to be notified when it is.

If you know where you’ll be, you can re-register and request a special absentee ballot, and you can choose if you want your ballot mailed, faxed or emailed to you. 

No, that’s not allowed. So if you plan to be out of state, make sure your county has your new address on file. If you suspect the ballot went to your California address, contact your county registrar’s office as soon as possible.

Yes. Under California law, whether you are unhoused, or in between residences for any reason, you can still use your last residence address. You can also use a business address, if that’s where you live.

If you don’t have a specific street location to fill out on your voter registration card, you can provide the city, zip code and closest intersecting cross-streets. This may be a public camp or park.

You must also provide a current mailing address where you can receive your voting materials, such as a P.O. box. The United States Postal Service offers general delivery mail services to customers with no fixed address and no identification.

Yes. In a general election in California, you can vote for any candidate regardless of how you’re registered. You are only bound to vote for candidates within your party in a presidential primary (so not until 2024). 

County election officials check the signatures on the return envelope against signatures on your voter registration card to make sure no one tries to improperly cast your ballot. It still remains confidential – the ballot is separated from the envelope before it is counted.

Voters with ballots with missing signatures or ones that don’t compare accurately are notified and given an opportunity to correct the problem before the election is certified.

Contact your county elections office.

Don’t worry – the county will pass it on to the correct elections office.

You can, but the Secretary of State’s office recommends contacting your local county elections office. They’ll ultimately be processing your ballot and they can offer the best guidance on whether you should reopen it or just leave the stub attached.

First, don’t open the ballot. The Secretary of State’s office says to return it to your county Registrar of Voters. You can write “Return to Sender/Not at this Address” and put it in the mail.