Voting Guide

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:

https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voter-registration/same-day-reg/.

2022

• Primary Election Voter Registration Deadline: May 23

• Primary Election: June 7

• General Election Voter Registration Deadline: October 24

• General Election: November 8

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.

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.

You do not need to provide an ID to vote in California. 

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: https://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: https://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.

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.