The voter registration deadline in California is 15 days before any election. So, register early!
Here are the upcoming election registration deadlines:
| Election Date | Registration Deadline (postmarked or submitted electronically) |
|---|---|
| November 5, 2024 | October 21, 2024 |
You can register to vote right now by completing the online application. Applications are available in English, Spanish, Chinese, Hindi, Japanese, Khmer, Korean, Tagalog, Thai, and Vietnamese. If you have any questions, visit the Frequently Asked Questions or contact the Secretary of State’s Voter Hotline at (800) 345-VOTE (8683) or via email.
Registering to vote is a right and responsibility of every citizen. Timely registration ensures you can participate in the electoral process and choose your representatives.
If you are participating in California’s confidential address program, Safe At Home, please do not register to vote using this website. Contact the Safe At Home program toll-free at (877) 322-5227 or via Safe At Home email.
Eligibility requirements to register to vote in California include: being a U.S. citizen, a resident of California, at least 18 years old on Election Day, not currently imprisoned or on parole for the conviction of a felony, and not currently found mentally incompetent to vote by a court.
You can also pre-register before you turn 18. If you are 16 or 17 years old and meet all other eligibility requirements to vote, you can pre-register. You will be automatically 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 crucial 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. However, this only applies to elections conducted by your county elections official. For more information, please visit Same Day Registration.
If you are a college student living away from home or a voter temporarily living outside the U.S., please review the information for College Students and Overseas Voters. You still have the right to register and vote in California elections.
You need to re-register if you change your residence address or mailing address, change your name, or change your political party preference. Remember, the 15-day registration deadline also applies to re-registration.
California’s Motor Voter program makes it more convenient to register to vote at the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). Eligible individuals who complete driver license, identification (ID) card, or change of address transactions online, by mail, or in person at the DMV will be automatically registered to vote by the California Secretary of State, unless they opt out of automatic voter registration.
