CA Voting and Election Day Information for the 2020 Presidential General Election

By Ann Nye —

Check out what’ s on your ballot, your voter registration and your polling place – go to League of Women Voters website, https://www.vote411.org/ or LA County Registrar’s website, https://lavote.net/home/voting-elections/current-elections/find-my-election-information

Official State Website: https://sos.ca.gov/elections

Voter Registration

Registration Deadline
In-Person: Received by close of business on Monday, October 19, 2020
By Mail: Postmarked by Monday, October 19, 2020
Online: By 11:59pm on Monday, October 19, 2020
EXCEPTIONS: See “Can voters register to vote after the deadline or on Election Day?” below

Check voter registration status:  https://voterstatus.sos.ca.gov

Can voters register to vote online or update their voter registration?  YES. https://registertovote.ca.gov — ID REQUIRED

How do I get a Voter Registration form?

• Voters can call (800) 345-8683
• Forms available in County Election offices, DMVs, libraries, and post offices
• Request a form http://sos.ca.gov/elections/contact/email-elections-division

Can voters register to vote after the deadline or on Election Day?

• All voters who need to register or re-register to vote within 14 days of an election can register at their county elections office, polling place, or vote center. Their ballots will be processed and counted once the county elections office has completed the voter registration verification process. https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voter-registration/same-day-reg
• EXCEPTION: Voters in counties that have adopted and implemented the Voter’s Choice Act may be able to register after the deadline at their Voting center. For more info:
o Visit the official state website: https://sos.ca.gov/elections/voters-choice-act
o Contact your County Election Office:  http://sos.ca.gov/elections/voting-resources/county-elections-offices

I have a felony conviction

• Voters will have their right to vote restored after:  Completing their term of incarceration or Completing their parole
• Voters on probation may register to vote and vote
• Voters who lost their right to vote MUST re-register
• For assistance – https://campaignlegal.org/restoreyourvote

I moved within California, but didn’t update my voter registration

SAME County MORE than 15 days before the Election – Voters may vote a regular ballot at their old polling place. Or they can request a vote-by-mail ballot, or vote a provisional ballot at their new polling place.
NEW County MORE than 15 days before the Election – A conditional voter registration process is available up to and on election day to vote and re-register in the new county. See Can voters register to vote on Election Day? section above for link.
Moved LESS than 15 days – Voters may vote a regular ballot at their old polling place. Or they can request a vote-by-mail ballot, or vote a provisional ballot at their new polling place.
EXCEPTION: Voters in counties that have adopted and implemented the Voter’s Choice Act may be able to register and vote at the same time at their Voting center. For more info:

o Visit the official state website: https://sos.ca.gov/elections/voters-choice-act
o Visit your county website or contact your County Elections Office:  http://sos.ca.gov/elections/voting-resources/county-elections-offices

I’m a college student from out-of-state or in a new district

• Official State Website: https://sos.ca.gov/elections/castudentsvote
• Campus Project: https://campusvoteproject.org/stateguides/California

I’m an active military and/or overseas voter

• Official State Website: https://sos.ca.gov/elections/voter-registration/military-overseas-voters
• Federal Voting Assistance Program: https://fvap.gov/california

I need to keep my address confidential (Address Confidentiality Program / Safe-at-Home)

• If you are enrolled in California’s confidential address program, Safe At Home, please contact the Safe At Home program toll-free at (877) 322-5227 or by the Safe At Home email form: https://sos.ca.gov/registries/safe-home/contact/email-safe-home
For more information on registering or how to join the Safe at Home program:  https://sos.ca.gov/registries/safe-home

Voting In-Person

Coming Soon: Vote Center Locations

Recruitment and selection of Vote Centers for the Presidential General Election is underway. Locations will be made available on this page in early October.
Vote Center locations will also be printed on your Sample Ballot Book and a Vote Center catalog listing all locations will be mailed leading up to the election.

Vote Center Days and Hours

Voters will have 10 consecutive days and Election Day to vote in-person at ANY participating Vote Center in the County.
Select Vote Centers will be available beginning Saturday, October 24. All Vote Centers will be available beginning Friday, October 30.
Vote Centers will be open every day from 10 AM to 7 PM during the early voting period. On Election Day Vote Centers will be open from 7 AM to 8 PM.

Voting by Mail

When are Vote-by-Mail Ballots available? On or about Monday, October 5, 2020

How to Vote a Vote-by-Mail Ballot

• Mail it in with the envelope provided
• Hand-deliver it to their County Elections Office or any polling place
• Apply and vote at their County Elections Office (in-person absentee voting):  http://sos.ca.gov/elections/voting-resources/county-elections-offices

Vote-by-mail Ballot Return Deadline

In Person: Delivered by 8:00pm Tuesday November 3, 2020 to any polling place or vote-by-mail drop-off location
By Mail: Postmarked by November 3, 2020 and received by November 6, 2020

I lost my ballot / need a replacement –  The most effective method is to contact your County Election Office:  http://sos.ca.gov/elections/voting-resources/county-elections-offices

Can someone return my ballot for me?  YES. 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.

Can I check the status of my vote-by-mail ballot?  YES. https://sos.ca.gov/elections/ballot-status

FOR MORE VOTE-BY-MAIL VOTING INFO – Visit your county website or contact your County Elections Office, http://sos.ca.gov/elections/voting-resources/county-elections-offices

Election Day – Tuesday, November 3, 2020

When can I vote?

• Polls are open from 7:00am to 8:00pm (Pacific Time Zone)
• If you are in line after 8:00pm you CAN STILL VOTE. Do not get out of line.

Where do I vote?

• Find your polling place

o http://sos.ca.gov/elections/polling-place
o NOTE: Voters in counties that have adopted and implemented the Voter’s Choice Act may be able to go to a Voting center instead of a specific polling place. For more info:

– Visit the official state website: https://sos.ca.gov/elections/voters-choice-act
– Visit your county website or contact your County Elections Office – http://sos.ca.gov/elections/voting-resources/county-elections-offices

Is VOTER ID required to vote?

• First-time voters or voters whose identity could not be verified may be requested to show Photo or Non-Photo ID from a list of approved IDs. For more info:
http://sos.ca.gov/elections/voting-resources/voting-california/what-bring
NOTE: Voters who cannot provide this information may vote a Provisional Ballot

Provisional Ballots (for voters having trouble voting on Election Day)

• Voters who are not on the list of registered voters, voting at the wrong (or new) polling place, or cannot provide the requested ID on Election Day may be able to vote a Provisional Ballot. For more info: http://sos.ca.gov/elections/voting-resources/provisional-voting
• Track your ballot – http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/ballot-status

Accessible Voting – Voters with disabilities can find more information about accessible voting here http://sos.ca.gov/elections/voting-resources/voters-disabilities

Voter Protection

• ELECTION PROTECTION HOTLINE
o English | 866-OUR-VOTE (1-866-687-8683)
o Spanish | 888-VE-Y-VOTA (1-888-839-8682)
o Multiple Asian languages | 888-API-VOTE (1-888-274-8683)
• DEPT. OF JUSTICE VOTING RIGHTS HOTLINE | 1-800-253-3931

VOTING AND ELECTION DAY QUESTIONS?

• Visit your state website: https://sos.ca.gov/elections
• Visit your county website or contact your County Elections Office, http://sos.ca.gov/elections/voting-resources/county-elections-offices

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