The deadline to register to vote in California is 15 days before Election Day. So, register early!
The table below summarizes voter registration deadlines for the upcoming election:
| Election Date | Registration Deadline (Postmarked or Submitted Online) |
|---|---|
| November 5, 2024 | October 21, 2024 |
You can register to vote right now by completing the online application. The application is available in English, Spanish, Chinese, Hindi, Japanese, Khmer, Korean, Tagalog, Thai, and Vietnamese. If you have any questions, visit the Frequently Asked Questions section or contact the Secretary of State’s Voter Hotline at (800) 345-VOTE (8683) or via email.
You are eligible to register to vote in California if you are:
- A United States citizen
- A resident of California
- At least 18 years old on Election Day
- Not a convicted felon currently serving a state or federal prison sentence
- Not declared mentally incompetent by a court
You can pre-register to vote in California if you are:
- 16 or 17 years old and
- Meet all other eligibility requirements to vote.
You will automatically be registered to vote on your 18th birthday.
If you would like to register using a paper voter registration application, you can obtain an application at your county elections office, library, Department of Motor Vehicles office, or U.S. Post Office. It is important that your voter registration application is completed fully and postmarked or delivered in person to your county elections office at least 15 days before the election.
Same Day Voter Registration (Conditional Voter Registration) allows you to register and vote at your county elections office after the 15-day voter registration deadline.
The Safe at Home program allows participants to register to vote confidentially and keep their voter information private.
College students and voters living abroad can find information on how to register and vote on the Secretary of State’s website.
To find out if you are registered to vote, visit the Check Your Voter Registration Status webpage.
You need to re-register to vote when:
- You change your residence or mailing address,
- You change your name, or
- You change your political party preference.
The California Motor Voter program makes it more convenient to register to vote at the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).
If you are currently registered to vote in California and want to cancel your voter registration, you can complete a California Voter Registration Cancellation Request form and submit it to your county elections office.
Anyone distributing voter registration cards in California should be familiar with the rules and regulations for conducting voter registration drives.
The Secretary of State is responsible for compiling detailed statistical reports of voter registration in California.
Qualified individuals or groups of individuals can register to access voter registration information.
The law prohibits the use of your voter registration information for commercial purposes.
