VOTER REGISTRATION DEADLINE

Must register to vote 15 days before the election.
Can change or select party affiliation 15 days before the election.

QUALIFICATIONS

To register to vote in the state of California, an individual must meet the following qualifications:
• Be a United States Citizen
• Be 18 Years of age on or before the day of the Election
• Be a resident of the state of California
• Not be in Prison or on parole for the conviction of a felony
• Not have been judged by a court to be mentally incompetent to register and vote

OBTAINING A VOTER REGISTRATION FORM

Can register to vote in person or obtain a mail-in application from your county election office (contact information)

Fill out a Voter Registration Form Online:
English and Spanish

Obtain a Mail-in Voter Registration Form Online:
English
Spanish

Note: Your application must be received no later than seven days before an election.  If it's not, you will need to apply in person to get a vote-by-mail ballot for that election.

CALIFORNIA ABSENTEE BALLOTS

Assembly Bill 1243, which was signed into law in 2007, replaced the terms "absentee ballot" and "absent voter" in state law with "vote-by-mail ballot" and "vote-by-mail voter," respectively. Furthermore, people who want to register to vote by mail on a regular basis will no longer be referred to by law as "permanent absentee voters" or "PAVs." Instead, they'll be known as "permanent vote-by-mail voters" or "PVBMVs."

How Can I Apply to Vote by Mail?

Registered voters can apply for a vote-by-mail ballot, by mail, for an upcoming election at any time, but not later than seven days prior to the election. Applications must be submitted to the county elections officials no later than the seventh day prior to the election.


To apply for a vote-by-mail ballot, you may use the application printed on your Sample Ballot, which you will receive prior to every election, or apply in writing to your County Elections Official. You will need to submit a completed application or letter to your county elections official between 29 days and seven days before the election. The application or letter must contain 1) your name and residence address as stated on your registration card; 2) the address to which the vote-by-mail ballot should be sent (if different than your registered address); 3) the name and date of the election in which the you would like to vote-by-mail; and 4) the date and your signature.


How do I Return the Vote by Mail Ballot?

The English version of the statewide vote-by-mail voter application may be completed by typing your information directly on the online application. Once you have typed in your information, simply print, sign and date the form, and mail it to your county elections office. DO NOT SEND IT TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S OFFICE.

      English - Vote-By-Mail Ballot Application - General Election

For statewide forms other than English, please print the form, fill out and sign and date the application using a pen, and mail it to your county elections office. 

Spanish	Primary Election Only |	General Election
Tagalog	Primary Election Only |	General Election
Japanese	Primary Election Only |	General Election
Chinese	Primary Election Only |	General Election
Vietnamese	Primary Election Only |	General Election
Korean	Primary Election Only |	General Election

Source of information:
California Secretary of State
Elections Division
1500 11th Street, 5th Floor
Sacramento , California 65814
Phone: 916-657-2166
Fax: 916-653-3214
mov@ss.ca.gov

Voter Registration Hotlines:
English: 1-800-345-VOTE
Spanish: 1-800-232-VOTA
Chinese 1-800-339-2857
Vietnamese 1-800-339-8163
Japanese 1-800-339-2865
Tagalog 1-800-339-2957
Korean 1-800-575-1558
http://www.ss.ca.gov/elections/elections.htm