YOUR VOTE, OUR HEALTH, THEIR FUTURE
- Shantay Davies-Balch
- Oct 1, 2024
- 9 min read
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VOTING AND HEALTH
When communities vote, they help shape decisions that improve health outcomes now and for future generations! See how states with more inclusive voting policies and greater levels of civic participation are healthier.
A QUICK GUIDE TO REGISTERING TO VOTE IN CALIFORNIA
Eligibility to Register to Vote in California & Persons with a prior felony conviction who can register to vote
Requirements:
Be a United States citizen
Be a resident of California
Be at least 18 years old on Election Day
Not currently serving a state or federal prison term for conviction of a felony (more info found at https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voting-rights-restored)
Not be currently found mentally incompetent to vote by a court (more info found at https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voter-registration/conservatorship) Persons with a prior felony conviction who
Persons with a prior felony conviction who can register to vote:
www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voting-rights-restored
In local detention facility:
serving a misdemeanor sentence (a misdemeanor never affects your right to vote)
Because jail time is a condition of probation (misdemeanor or felony)
Serving a felony jail sentence
Awaiting trial
On parole
On probation
On mandatory supervision
On post-release community supervision
On federal supervised release
A person with a juvenile wardship adjudication
Persons with a current felony conviction who cannot register and vote: Currently serving a state or federal prison term for the conviction of a felony in:
State prison
Federal prison
A local detention facility*
NOTE: Once you have finished serving your term, your right to vote is restored; however, you must register online at RegisterToVote.ca.gov or by filling out a paper voter registration card.
When to Register
Voter registration deadlines
Online registration deadline: Monday, October 21, 2024
Register by mail deadline: Must be postmarked by Monday, October 21, 2024
In person registration deadline: Tuesday, November 5, 2024
You can register to vote at any time! But to vote in an upcoming election, you must submit your registration by 11:59 pm or be postmarked/hand-delivered to your county elections office 15 days before the election.
If you miss this deadline you can conditionally register and vote at a county elections office, polling place, or vote center.
Pre-register to Vote
Be 16 or 17 years old
Meet all of the other eligibility requirements to vote.
If you pre-register to vote, you will automatically be registered to vote on your 18th birthday
How to Register to Vote
There are 4 ways in which you can register to vote; online, through the mail, in person, or as a conditional voter
Online Registration
Go to the California Online Voter Registration website: RegisterToVote.ca.gov
Provide required information: You will need a California driver’s license or California identification card number, the last four digits of your Social Security number, as well as your date of birth.
Submit your application: Follow the steps to complete and submit your registration.
Mail Registration
Get a Voter Registration Form: Pick up a voter registration form at your local county elections office, public library, DMV office, or post office. You can also request a form be mailed to you by calling your county elections office
Complete the form: Fill in the required information.
Mail the form: Send the form to your county elections office. The form must be postmarked at least 15 days before Election Day.
In-Person Registration
Visit your county elections office: You can register to vote in person at your county elections office.
Fill out the registration form: Provide the necessary information.
Submit the form: Hand the form to an elections official in your elections office
Conditional Voter Registration
If you miss the regular registration deadline (> 15 days from election), you can still register and vote:
Visit your county elections office, polling place, or vote center: This can be done up to and including Election Day.
Complete the Conditional Voter Registration process: Fill out the required form from your chosen voting place and vote provisionally.
Checking Your Registration Status
To check and verify your voter registration status, visit the Voter Status Tool on the California Secretary of State’s website. Here, you will need to enter your name, date of birth, and either your California driver’s license number or the last four digits of your Social Security number in order to check your registration status.
Updating Your Registration
You will need to re-register to vote if:
You move to a new address
You change your name
You want to change your political party affiliation
The process to update your registration is the same process as registering to vote.
Options for Voting
Vote by Mail: Once you have registered, you can request a vote-by-mail ballot to be sent to you. Applications can be found online, at your county elections office, or can be requested by mail.
Vote in Person: You can vote at your assigned polling place on Election Day or at an early voting location within your county.
PLANNING A VOTER EDUCATION DRIVE
FIRST STEPS
Contact Your Local Elections Office
Decide if you will use paper voter registration cards, the California Online Voter Registration application, or both
Local elections offices provide the necessary materials and advice you will need for a successful drive.
Develop a Plan
Now you want to gather important information to find where the registration drive would have the most effect.
Key questions to consider:
How many people are registered in the specified area?
How many eligible residents (18+, U.S. citizens, California residents) are unregistered?
Use the United States Census Bureau and local resources such as the Guide to State and Local Census Geography to locate answers to these questions and refine the drive's scope, area, and resource needs.
Distribution Form
A request for more than 50 voter registration cards will require completing a distribution form. This outlines the distribution plan, target groups, methods, and compliance with various laws.
Forms are available on the Secretary of State’s website and in Appendix A.
Paying People to Register Citizens to Vote
Requirements for paid registration activities are detailed in Elec. Code, section 2159.5, with a summary in Appendix B.
In accordance with Appendix C the drive must have circulators who receive a written statement of their responsibilities and liabilities.
Non-compliance with these terms is a misdemeanor leading to fines and possible jail time, increasing for repeated offenses.
Be aware of voter registration fraud indicators (Appendix D) which include:
Address Issues; incomplete, missing numbers, common misspellings, incorrect zip codes, frequent use of temporary housing addresses (shelters, halfway homes)
Dates of Birth; dates that do not exist like June 31st or February 29th on non leap year
Incorrect CA license of State ID Number; Must consist of a letter followed by 7 numbers, letters I, L, Q, T and X are never used within these numbers
Social Security Number; 4 successive zeros is not possible (0000), the last four digits are between 0001 and 9999
Telephone numbers that are wrong, disconnected, or a fax line
Party Preference that is crossed out, erased, changed or completed with a 2159.
TRAINING YOUR TEAM
Importance of Training
Training your team in voter registration laws and procedures is critical. Incorrect information can lead to mistakes in a qualified citizen's ability to register or registering an ineligible person, both of which have legal consequences.
Key Training Components
Review Key Materials:
Ensure workers understand the eligibility requirements and how to correctly complete the card.
Make sure employees understand "Who Can Register to Vote in California?" and refer to the Secretary of State's FAQs as well.
Local Elections Official Training:
Contact local election offices to obtain needed materials such as training programs and printed materials
Voter Registration Card (VRC)
Types of VRC: There are 2 types of VRCs a State and a County version
State VRC: Are sent to the Secretary of State’s office, then forwarded to the appropriate county that the voter resides in, because of this the State VRC can be used in any of the 58 counties of California. They are printed in Spanish, Chinese, Hindi, Japanese, Khmer, Korean, Tagalog, Thai, and Vietnamese
County VRC: Are sent directly to your local county office because of this there is faster processing. Counties are only required to provide other languages when the number of residents who speak a different language exceeds a required percentage of the population.
State VRCs should be used when holding a statewide voter registration drive while county VRCs would be used for local and regional drives. Use state VRC for statewide drives; county VRC for local or regional drives.
If holding a voter registration drive online through the California Online Voter Registration application, RegisterToVote.ca.gov, you do not have to choose which type of card to use. The election submission will automatically be sent to the correct county office.
Obtaining VRCs:
Contact your county elections office for County VRcs, for State VRCs contact the Secretary of State’s Election Division at (916) 657-2166.
Large requests of more than 50 VRCs from either source are required to complete a distribution form including a plan for distribution. The Voter Registration Card Statement of Distribution form is available on the Secretary of State’s website and in Appendix A. The completed form and distribution plan must then be faxed to the Secretary of State office at (916) 653–3214 or mailed to: Requests will be processed with 48 hours
Secretary of StateElections Division1500 11th Street, 5th FloorSacramento, CA 95814
Using VRCs:
Ensure correct card type based on the event’s location scope.
Return completed affidavits promptly within three days or before the registration deadline.
Deadline for Voter Registration
General Voters
Must register or re-register at least 15 days prior to an election.
New Citizens
Can register and vote up until and including Election Day.
Late Registration:
"Conditional" registration and provisional voting are allowed if the deadline is missed.
Eligibility to Register to Vote in California
Residency Rules
A voter’s residence is where they declare their primary home.
Students going to school away may register under their school address or non school address
Homeless individuals can register using the place where they spend the majority of their time, they may not be required to put an address
Additional Registration Information
No English Requirement
Literacy is not required to register or vote.
No Fees
It is illegal to charge fees to register to vote.
Change of Information
Voters must re-register if they change address, name, or party affiliation.
Completing a Paper Affidavit of Registration
There are Two Portions to Each Affidavit:
Registration Portion: Detachable section used to register a voter, this can be mailed without postage.
Voter's Receipt: Contains a number corresponding to the mailed registration portion. Anyone assisting with registration must complete the receipt information and then provide it to the registrant.
Instructions for Completing the Affidavit:
Use Ink:
Fill out with black, blue, or other dark ink.
Print Legibly:
Ensure all information is readable to avoid issues later.
Complete Entire Affidavit
Fill out all required fields to prevent delays or cancellation. A summary guide is available in Appendix E.
Common Omissions and Mistakes:
Citizenship and Age
You must check the "Yes" or "No" box for citizenship and age eligibility.
County
Include your county information in both residence and any prior registration sections.
Birthplace
State or country of birth is required, not just the city.
Identification Information
Provide a driver license number, state ID card number, or the last four digits of the social security number for identity verification
Prior Registration
Complete this section if previously registered in California or another state.
Signature and Date
Sign and date the affidavit for it to be correctly processed.
Incomplete Affidavit Handling:
If required information is missing and a telephone number is provided, election officials will call to collect the missing details.
If no telephone number is provided or it is unreadable, officials will try to contact you at your address.
If an affidavit is missing both readable telephone numbers and addresses it will be rejected, and you will not be registered to vote.
Confidentiality
Personal information on registration applications are confidential, but can be released for specific purposes such as for elections or research.
Unauthorized sharing of certain personal details can result in fines.
Possible Failures to Comply with Voter Registration Requirements and Their Penalties
Penalties for Misconduct
Perjury
Submitting false information on registration applications can lead to imprisonment.
Illegal Registration
Registering an ineligible or non-existent person is punishable by jail time.
Interference
Tampering or delaying the transfer of registration forms is a misdemeanor.
Misrepresentation
Misrepresenting registration details or your party preference changes can lead to fines and imprisonment.
FIND OUT WHAT IS ON THE BALLOT
WRITE A LETTER TO YOUR LEGISLATOR
Find your representatives on the following websites:
State Assembly and State Senate Representatives: https://findyourrep.legislature.ca.gov/
House of Representatives: https://www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative
US State Senate Representatives: https://www.senate.gov/senators/senators-contact.htm
How to write a letter to your legislator:
The sample letter provided shows the correct format for addressing your State Senator or other Elected Official.
This is one example of how to set up such a letter but you will need to personalize your own to address your concerns issues regarding legislation. Please use the left-hand column as a guide for the format, but adjust the letter to your needs!
