Voting for the First Time? Here’s how!
Voting for the First Time? Here’s how!
You’re going to be 18 years old by election day on Nov. 5, 2024 and you’re excited to vote for the first time in California! CONGRATS! Now, you have questions. We hope this helps!
Disclaimer: This publication is legal information only and is not legal advice about your individual situation. It is current as of the date posted. We try to update our materials regularly. However, laws are regularly changing. If you want to make sure the law has not changed, contact DRC or another legal office.
You’re going to be 18 years old by election day on Nov. 5, 2024 and you’re excited to vote for the first time in California! CONGRATS! Now, you have questions. We hope this helps! If you still have questions, you can call our Voting Hotline: 1-888-569-7755.
Question: Where do I go to register to vote?
- Online: https://registertovote.ca.gov/
- By mail: pick up a voter registration card at these locations https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voter-registration
- In-person: https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voting-resources/county-elections-offices/
Question: What is the deadline for me to register in order to vote in the November 2024 election?
- For Online registration, register by Oct 21, 2024
- For registration by mail, postmarked by Oct 21, 2024
- Missed the deadline? You can still register conditionally even up to Election Day and vote in the November Election at any in-person voting location. “Conditionally” means they won’t count your vote until they check that all your registration information is correct. https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voter-registration/same-day-reg
Question: How do I fill out the voter registration card:
- Guide on how to fill it out: https://elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov/pdfs/quick-guide-vrc.pdf
- Guide In ASL: https://youtu.be/Xuu0ByH9sJk
Question: What happens after I register to vote?
- You can check to see if you’ve registered: https://voterstatus.sos.ca.gov/
- You will get a Voter Information Guide mailed to you
- You will get your ballot mailed to you
Question: How do I find out where I vote?
- Check your County’s Voter Information Guide for the address of your assigned polling place or nearest vote center
- You can also check online: https://www.vote.org/polling-place-locator/
Question: How do I vote?
- By mail: https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voter-registration/vote-mail
- In person: Go to your polling place or vote center and fill out the ballot using a paper ballot or your county’s accessible voting machine and drop it in the ballot box or give it to the poll worker/vote center staff.
- Curbside: Go to your polling place or vote center and use the curbside voting option where you contact someone inside the polling place and vote conveniently from your vehicle. Helpful suggestion: Bring a cell phone with you to easily contact staff inside the polling place or vote center.
- Remote Accessible Vote-By-Mail (RAVBM): You can complete your ballot from home using assistive devices on your own home computer. Contact your County Elections office and you will be sent a link to mark choices and complete a ballot on your computer. Once you are done, you can print out the completed ballot, then return it using the pre-paid envelope sent by the County.
You’re done!! Congratulations on voting for the first time!! Now get yourself an “I Voted” sticker.
For more information, go to: https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voter-registration