Voter Registration
Registration Deadline: Your registration must be postmarked or submitted electronically or hand delivered no later than 15 days before the election in which you wish to vote.
Same Day (Conditional) Voter Registration: Conditional Voter Registration is a new safety net for Californians who miss the deadline to register to vote or update their voter registration information for an election. While you may not be able to vote at your regular polling place or vote by mail, there is still an opportunity to cast a ballot by completing the conditional voter registration process.
Eligible citizens who miss the deadline can go to their county elections office or a designated satellite location to register and vote conditionally. Their ballots will be processed once the county elections office has completed the voter registration verification process. Voters can complete the conditional voter registration process 14 days before an election all the way through to that Election Day.
Contact your local county elections official for more information.
Party affiliation: For US Senate, US House, and state legislative races, California holds an “open” primary. Voters can pick any candidate regardless of how they’re registered. The top two vote-getters, regardless of political party, will advance to the general election.
For the presidential primary, you can only cast a ballot for the party of which you are registered. The state GOP has a “closed” presidential primary – voters with no political preference cannot participate. But, the state Democratic Party allows voters with no political preference to participate in its presidential primary. You will not automatically receive a ballot, though, you must request one.
To change your party preference, you must re-register to vote.
Your political party preference will not affect which ballot you receive for the general election.
If you change your name: If you have legally changed your name, you will need to re-register to vote. It is recommended that you first update your driver license or identification card before updating your voter record.
If you are re-registering online and have not updated your DMV record first, select “decline” on the application when asked to use your DMV signature to register. If you do not decline use of your DMV signature, your application will be rejected. After you select “decline” continue filling in your information, print, sign, and mail the paper application to your county elections office.
Voter Registration Qualifications
Age: Must be 18 years of age or older on Election Day
16 or 17 year olds that meet all other voting requirements may pre-register to vote and be automatically registered to vote once they turn 18
Citizenship: Must be a United States citizen
Residency: Must be a resident of California
Mental Competency: Not currently found by a court to be mentally incompetent.
Felony Convictions: Not currently imprisoned or on parole for the conviction of a felony (for more information on the rights of people who have been incarcerated, please see the Secretary of State's Voting Rights for Californians with Criminal Convictions or Detained in Jail or Prison)
Obtaining a Voter Registration Form
Online: Fill out the online application. To register online you will need your California driver license or California identification card number, the last four digits of your social security number and your date of birth. If you do not have a California driver license or California identification card, you can still use this form to apply to register to vote by completing the online interview by 11:59:59 p.m. Pacific Time on the 15th calendar day before an election.
In person: If you would like to register using a paper voter registration application, you can pick one up at your county elections office, library, Department of Motor Vehicles offices, or U.S. post office. It is important that your voter registration application be filled out completely and be postmarked or hand-delivered to your county elections office at least 15 days before the election.
Paper: If you would like to register using a paper voter registration application, you can pick one up at your county elections office, library, Department of Motor Vehicles offices, or U.S. post office. It is important that your voter registration application be filled out completely and be postmarked or hand-delivered to your county elections office at least 15 days before the election.
Phone/Email: To request a paper voter registration application be mailed to you, please call (800) 345-VOTE(8683) or email Elections Division staff.
VOTER REGISTRATION FOR MILITARY AND OVERSEAS VOTERS
You can qualify as a "military or overseas voter" if you are absent from the county in which you are eligible to vote and you are;
-A member of the active or reserve components of the United States Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, or Coast Guard; a Merchant Marine; a member of the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps; a member of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Corps of the United States; or a member on activated status of the National Guard or state militia
-A spouse or dependent of a person described above; or
-A U.S. citizen living outside of the territorial limits of the U.S. or D.C.
Even if you are or were registered to vote in your county, in order to receive your election materials and vote when you are absent from your county while serving and/or living overseas, you need to apply for a vote-by-mail ballot by completing the online voter registration application or by completing the Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) (PDF).
When you complete your online voter registration application or your FPCA, you can choose to receive your ballot and the accompanying Military or Overseas Voter Return Envelope mailed, faxed, or emailed to you. You may even be able to download them from your county elections official's website.
SUBMITTING A MILITARY AND OVERSEAS VOTER BALLOT
Return your voted ballot and signed Military or Overseas Voter Return Envelope to your county elections official. Mail or fax (under certain circumstances) your voted ballot and signed return envelope following the Secretary of State's online instructions under "Mailing Addresses and Fax Numbers for Military or Overseas Voters".
If mailing: Your voted ballot and signed return envelope must be postmarked on or before Election Day and received by your county elections office no later than 3 days after Election Day.
If faxing: If you are living outside the territorial limits of the United States or are called for military service within the United States on or after the final date to make application for a vote-by-mail ballot, you may return your ballot by fax, but it must be received by your county elections office by 8:00 p.m. on Election Day. If you decide to fax your voted ballot and signed Military or Overseas Voter Return Envelope, you must also fax an "Oath of Voter" form to waive your right to a confidential vote. This oath is in addition to the voter's declaration that is on the Military or Overseas Voter Return Envelope. Please use the oath form your county provides to you; however, many counties also accept the "Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP) Alternative Form (PDF)". Please check with your county before using FVAP's Alternative Form.
Verifying Your Voter Registration Status
Check the Status of Your Voter Registration
Obtaining an Absentee Ballot
County elections officials will mail vote-by-mail ballots to all active registered voters. All voters may vote-by-mail instead of going to the polls on Election Day. If you failed to receive your vote-by-mail ballot or if it was lost or destroyed, you may apply in writing for a replacement, and submit it to your county elections official. If you are unable to vote in person at the polls and do not have a vote-by-mail ballot, you may apply in writing for a late vote-by-mail ballot.
SUBMITTING AN ABSENTEE BALLOT
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. 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 your county between 7:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. on Election Day.
VOTING ON ELECTION DAY
All polling place locations are open on Election Day from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. If you live in a county that is conducting elections under the California Voter's Choice Act, please visit that web page for more information.
In most cases, California voters are not required to show identification at their polling place. However, it is a good idea to bring identification with you when you vote for the first time. A poll worker may ask to see your identification if you mailed your voter registration application and did not include your driver license number, California identification number, or the last four digits of your Social Security number.
For more information on identification to use when you vote for the first time check the complete list or call the Secretary of State's toll-free voter hotline at (800) 345-VOTE (8683).
Tracking your ballot: California Elections Code 3017(c) requires county elections officials to establish procedures for tracking vote-by-mail ballots. You can track the status of your ballot by visiting “My Voter Status”. The Secretary of State has also started offering “Where’s My Ballot,” which is a tool that lets voters know where their ballot is at every step of the process. Using this tool, powered by Ballotrax, voters can receive updates by text, email, or voice message from county election officials. You can sign up here to receive updates.
Provisional Voting: If your name is not on a voter list at your polling location, you have a right to fill out a provisional ballot. This is a regular ballot that is placed in a special envelope to be put in a ballot box. You can cast a provisional ballot if you:
-Believe you are registered to vote despite not being on the voter list at the polls
-If you received a vote-by-mail ballot but want to vote at a polling center
-If you did not receive a vote-by-mail ballot or do not have your ballot with you.
Your ballot will be counted after elections officials have confirmed your voter registration and confirm that you have not already voted in the election.
Additional Information
Deciding how to vote: https://votesmart.org
Polling Place: California Polling Place finder
Problems with voting: If you believe that you are a victim of election fraud or have witnessed a criminal violation of the California Elections Code, you may use the Election Voter Complaint Form to report the violation to California Secretary of State
Investigative Services. California Election Voter Complaint Form English and Spanish.
Verifying provisional ballot status: California Provisional Ballot Checkup
Assistance in Other Languages: click here for a voter registration form in a language other than English or Spanish.
California’s Voter Information Guide: Click here
(1) Existing law, the Mental Health Services Act (MHSA), an initiative measure enacted by the voters as Proposition 63 at the November 2, 2004, statewide general election, funds a system of county mental health plans for the provision of mental health services. Existing law authorizes the MHSA to be amended by a 2/3 vote of the Legislature if the amendments are consistent with and further the intent of the MHSA. Existing law authorizes the Legislature to add provisions to clarify procedures and terms of the MHSA by majority vote.
If approved by the voters at the March 5, 2024, statewide primary election, this bill would delete the provision that establishes vote requirements to amend the MHSA, requiring all amendments of the MHSA to be approved by the voters. The bill would recast the MHSA by, among other things, renaming it the Behavioral Health Services Act (BHSA), expanding it to include treatment of substance use disorders, changing the county planning process, and expanding services for which counties and the state can use funds. The bill would revise the distribution of MHSA moneys, including allocating up to $36,000,000 to the department for behavioral health workforce funding. The bill would authorize the department to require a county to implement specific evidence-based practices.
This bill would require a county, for behavioral health services eligible for reimbursement pursuant to the federal Social Security Act, to submit the claims for reimbursement to the State Department of Health Care Services (the department) under specific circumstances. The bill would require counties to pursue reimbursement through various channels and would authorize the counties to report issues with managed care plans and insurers to the Department of Managed Health Care or the Department of Insurance.
The MHSA establishes the Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission and requires it to adopt regulations for programs and expenditures for innovative programs and prevention and early intervention programs established by the act. Existing law requires counties to develop plans for innovative programs funded under the MHSA.
This bill would rename the commission the Behavioral Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission and would change the composition and duties of the commission, as specified. The bill would delete the provisions relating to innovative programs and instead would require the department to establish the priorities and a program, which would be administered by counties, to provide housing interventions. The bill would provide that low rent housing project, as defined, does not apply to the development of urban or rural dwellings, apartments, or other living accommodations, as specified.
This bill would make extensive technical and conforming changes.
(2) Existing law, the Bronzan-McCorquodale Act, contains provisions governing the operation and financing of community mental health services for persons with mental disorders in every county through locally administered and locally controlled community mental health programs. Existing law further provides that, to the extent resources are available, community mental health services should be organized to provide an array of treatment options in specified areas, including, among others, case management and individual service plans. Under existing law, mental health services are provided through contracts with county mental health programs.
The bill would authorize the State Department of Health Care Services to develop and revise documentation standards for individual service plans, as specified. The bill would revise the contracting process, including authorizing the department to temporarily withhold funds or impose monetary sanctions on a county behavioral health department that is not in compliance with the contract.
(3) Existing law establishes the Medi-Cal program, which is administered by the State Department of Health Care Services, under which qualified low-income individuals receive health care services, including Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment (EPSDT) services for an individual under 21 years of age. The Medi-Cal program is, in part, governed by, and funded pursuant to, federal Medicaid program provisions. Existing law requires the department, in collaboration with the California Health and Human Services Agency and in consultation with the Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission, to create a plan for a performance outcomes system for EPSDT mental health services, as specified.
This bill would include substance use disorder treatment services provided to eligible Medi-Cal beneficiaries under 21 years of age in the plan for a performance outcome system.
(4) The bill would provide that its provisions are severable.
(5) The bill would provide for the submission of the act to the voters at the March 5, 2024, statewide primary election.
(1)The California Constitution prohibits the Legislature from creating a debt or liability that singly or in the aggregate with any previous debts or liabilities exceeds the sum of $300,000, except by an act that (1) authorizes the debt for a single object or work specified in the act, (2) has been passed by a 23 vote of all the Members elected to each house of the Legislature, (3) has been submitted to the people at a statewide general or primary election, and (4) has received a majority of all the votes cast for and against it at that election.
This bill would set forth the Kindergarten Through Grade 12 Schools and Local Community College Public Education Facilities Modernization, Repair, and Safety Bond Act of 2024 as a state general obligation bond act that would provide $10,000,000,000 to construct and modernize education facilities, including $8,500,000,000 for elementary and secondary educational facilities and $1,500,000,000 for community college facilities, as specified. This bond act would become operative only if approved by the voters.
(2)The Leroy F. Greene School Facilities Act of 1998 provides for the adoption of rules, regulations, and procedures, under the administration of the Director of General Services, for the allocation of state funds by the State Allocation Board for the construction and modernization of public school facilities.
This bill would require a school district to submit to the Department of General Services a 5-year school facilities master plan as a condition of participating in the school facilities program under the act. The bill would amend the methodology for calculating the local contribution a school district is required to make in order to be eligible to receive state funding under the act, as specified. The bill would require a school district that seeks new construction or modernization funding under the act after November 5, 2024, to submit an updated report of the school districts existing school building capacity to the State Allocation Board.
The bill would authorize the allocation of state funds under the act for the replacement of school buildings that are at least 75 years old, for specified assistance to school districts with a school facility located on a military installation, as specified, and small school districts, as defined, and for the testing and remediation of lead levels in water fountains and faucets used for drinking or preparing food on schoolsites, as provided. The bill would authorize new construction and modernization grants to be used for seismic mitigation purposes, certain health and safety projects, and, among other things, to establish schoolsite-based infrastructure to provide broadband internet access. The bill would also authorize modernization grants to be used for the control, management, or abatement of lead.
The bill would increase the maximum level of total bonding capacity, as defined, that a school district could have and still be eligible for financial hardship assistance under the act from $5,000,000 to $15,000,000. The bill, commencing with the 202627 fiscal year, would increase that $15,000,000 maximum by a specified inflation adjustment each fiscal year. The bill would authorize the State Allocation Board to provide assistance for purposes of procuring interim housing to school districts and county offices of education impacted by a natural disaster for which the Governor has declared a state of emergency. The bill would also make conforming changes.
The bill would make these provisions effective upon the adoption by the voters of the Kindergarten Through Grade 12 Schools and Local Community College Public Education Facilities Modernization, Repair, and Safety Bond Act of 2024.
(3)This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute.
The California Constitution provides that only a marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California, and federal law permanently enjoins the state from enforcing this constitutional provision.
This measure would repeal this unenforceable constitutional provision and would instead provide that the right to marry is a fundamental right, as specified.
An amendment to the 2022 Living Wage Act to increase the California minimum wage to $18 an hour.
Current state law (the Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act of 1995) generally prevents cities and counties from limiting the initial rental rate that landlords may charge to new tenants in all types of housing, and from limiting rent increases for existing tenants in (1) residential properties that were first occupied after February 1, 1995; (2) single-family homes; and (3) condominiums. This measure would repeal that state law and would prohibit the state from limiting the right of cities and counties to maintain, enact, or expand residential rent-control ordinances.
Requires certain health care providers to spend 98% of revenues from federal discount prescription drug program on direct patient care.
Applies only to health care providers that: spent over $100,000,000 in any ten-year period on anything other than direct patient care; and operated multifamily housing with over 500 high-severity health and safety violations.
Penalizes noncompliance by revoking health care licenses and tax-exempt status. Permanently authorizes state to negotiate Medi-Cal drug prices on statewide basis.
Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local governments: Increased costs to state government, potentially up to the millions of dollars annually, to review entities compliance with the measure and enforce the measures provisions. These costs would be paid for by fees created under the measure. Uncertain fiscal impacts to state and local government health programs, depending on how the affected entities respond to the measure requirements.
Makes permanent the existing tax on managed health care insurance plans, currently set to expire in 2026, which the state uses to pay for health care services for low-income families with children, seniors, people with disabilities, and other groups covered by the Medi-Cal program. Requires revenues to be used only for specified Medi-Cal services, including primary and specialty care, emergency care, family planning, mental health, and prescription drugs. Prohibits revenues from being used to replace other existing Medi-Cal funding. Caps administrative expenses and requires independent audits of programs receiving funding.
Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local governments: Uncertain overall impact on state revenues and spending, including reduced legislative flexibility over the use of MCO tax funds. The extent of this impact depends on whether the measure would result in different state decisions around imposing, structuring, and spending proceeds from the managed care organization tax than in the absence of the measure.
Allows felony charges for possessing certain drugs, including fentanyl, and for thefts under $950both currently chargeable only as misdemeanorswith two prior drug or two prior theft convictions, as applicable. Defendants who plead guilty to felony drug possession and complete treatment can have charges dismissed.
Increases sentences for other specified drug and theft crimes.
Increased prison sentences may reduce savings that currently fund mental health and drug treatment programs, K-12 schools, and crime victims; any remaining savings may be used for new felony treatment program.
Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local governments: Increased state criminal justice system costs potentially in the hundreds of millions of dollars annually, primarily due to an increase in the state prison population. Some of these costs could be offset by reductions in state spending on local mental health and substance use services, truancy and dropout prevention, and victim services due to requirements in current law. Increased local criminal justice system costs potentially in the tens of millions of dollars annually, primarily due to increased court-related workload and a net increase in the number of people in county jail and under county community supervision.
The California Drought, Water, Parks, Climate, Coastal Protection, and Outdoor Access For All Act of 2018, approved by the voters as Proposition 68 at the June 5, 2018, statewide primary election, authorizes the issuance of bonds in the amount of $4,100,000,000 pursuant to the State General Obligation Bond Law to finance a drought, water, parks, climate, coastal protection, and outdoor access for all program. Article XVI of the California Constitution requires measures authorizing general obligation bonds to specify the single object or work to be funded by the bonds and further requires a bond act to be approved by a 23 vote of each house of the Legislature and a majority of the voters.
This bill would enact the Safe Drinking Water, Wildfire Prevention, Drought Preparedness, and Clean Air Bond Act of 2024, which, if approved by the voters, would authorize the issuance of bonds in the amount of $10,000,000,000 pursuant to the State General Obligation Bond Law to finance projects for safe drinking water, drought, flood, and water resilience, wildfire and forest resilience, coastal resilience, extreme heat mitigation, biodiversity and nature-based climate solutions, climate-smart, sustainable, and resilient farms, ranches, and working lands, park creation and outdoor access, and clean air programs.
This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute.
ACA 1 will lower the necessary voter threshold from a two-thirds supermajority to 55 percent to approve local general obligation (GO) bonds and special taxes for affordable housing and public infrastructure projects.
The California Constitution prohibits slavery and prohibits involuntary servitude, except as punishment to a crime.
This measure would instead prohibit slavery in any form. This measure would prohibit the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation from disciplining any incarcerated person for refusing a work assignment. The measure would also clarify that its provisions do not prohibit the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation from awarding credits to an incarcerated person who voluntarily accepts a work assignment.