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California | Voting Guide
Voting Guide
California
Registration Deadlines and Election Dates
Voter Registration Deadline: 15 days before Election Day.
Conditional voter registration is also available to eligible residents who miss the registration deadline.
For more information, visit: sos.ca.gov/elections/voter-registration/same-day-reg/.
For information on upcoming 2023 local elections, please visit: sos.ca.gov/elections/upcoming-elections/county-administered-elections
Official Election Websites
More election information available at:
Online Voter Registration Form available at:
Register at School or Home
Students have a decision about where to register to vote.
You have a right to register to vote at the address you consider the place where you live, whether that is your family's home or the place where you attend school. You should update your registration anytime this home address changes.
You may only be registered and vote in one location.
What Type of ID Do I Need to Register?
California's online registration system requires a driver’s license or ID card number, the last four digits of your Social Security number, and your birthday. The paper voter registration form asks for a California driver's license or ID number, or the last four digits of your Social Security number.
What Type of ID Do I Need to Vote?
You do not need to provide an ID to vote in California.
Where Do I Vote?
Make a plan. Check your voter registration and absentee ballot status or look up your voting site and hours at:
How Can I Vote?
By Mail
California conducts elections primarily by mail. All active, registered California voters will receive a ballot in the mail.
Track your absentee ballot at: california.ballottrax.net/voter/
Completed vote-by-mail ballots returned by mail must be postmarked on or before Election Day and received no later than 7 days after Election Day. Vote-by-mail ballots returned in person must be returned by 8 p.m. on Election Day. You can return your ballot in-person at your county's election office, a polling place, or a designated drop box in your county. Find a list of polling places and drop box locations at: voterstatus.sos.ca.gov/.
Early In-Person
Some counties offer in-person voting before Election Day. Contact your county election officials to determine if your county offers early in-person voting. More information is available at: https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voters-choice-act.
Election Day
Voting sites will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day. If you are in line by the closing time, then you have a right to vote.
Common Questions/Concerns
Registering to Vote Does Not Affect Your:
Federal Financial Aid
Where you register to vote will not affect federal financial aid such as Pell Grants, Perkins or Stafford loans, or your dependency status for FAFSA
Status as a Dependent on Your Parents’ Taxes
Being registered to vote at a different address from your parents does not prevent them from claiming you as a dependent on their taxes
Tuition Status
Being deemed out-of-state for tuition purposes does not prevent you from choosing to register to vote in your campus community
Will registering to vote in California affect my driver’s license or car registration?
As a full–time student in California, you may have to make these changes regardless of whether you register to vote in California. For more information, you may wish to contact the California Department of Motor Vehicles.
Fair Elections Center and Campus Vote Project intend the information contained herein to be used only as a general guide. This document should not be used as a substitute for consultation with a licensed California professional.
Last updated June 2023