Voting
Disclaimer: These materials are based on the law at the time we write them. We try to update our materials; however, laws are regularly changing. If you want to make sure the law has not changed, contact us or another legal source.
How Can I Vote If I Cannot Vote in Person Due to a Medical Emergency?
This publication explains how a voter who cannot go out to vote because of a medical emergency, which does not allow them to leave their homes to go vote, or are in the hospital or other care facility. The process is slightly different in each county. In most counties, a voter experiencing a medical emergency needs a family member or friend to help them obtain and return their ballot.
Many Voters with Disabilities Can Vote by Mail Privately and Independently
Vote-by-Mail has become ever more popular in California. However, voters with certain disabilities, for example vision and dexterity disabilities, are not able to vote privately and independently using a paper Vote-by-Mail ballot because they cannot read or mark it. Effective January 1, 2020 Remote Accessible Vote-by-Mail (RAVBM) must be available in every county in California.
VAACs: How County Elections Offices Can Start a Voting Accessibility Advisory Committee
A VAAC or “Voting Accessibility Advisory Committee” works with county election offices. It helps the county improve access to voting. This pub is for county election offices. It is a toolkit about starting a VAAC. It gives them resources. It has advice for agendas and access to meetings.
Your Right to Vote and Register to Vote When You are in a Facility
People with mental health disabilities committed under certain categories cannot vote. Others can vote. This pub tells you who can vote and who cannot. It gives you the law. It tells you when you can get your right to vote back.
Your Voting Rights Under Conservatorship (SB 589)
People who have conservators can vote unless a judge says they cannot. This pub tells you how to find out if a judge took away your right to vote. It tells you how to get the right to vote back. It tells you what to do if the judge will not give your right to vote back to you.
Voters with Disabilities
This publication provides an overview of voting for people with disabilities. It explains how voters with disabilities can get registered to vote and find information to make informed choices. Next, it covers the requirements that make voting accessible for people with disabilities. It will also explain temporary changes to the voting process for the November 2020 Presidential General Election to respond to health and safety concerns of the COVID-19 global pandemic.
VAAC’s: How Voters with Disabilities Can Make Elections More Accessible
A VAAC or “Voting Accessibility Advisory Committee” works with county election offices. It helps the county improve access to voting. This pub tells you what VAACs do. It tells you how to get one set up and how to be a member.
Regional Center Consumers and Voting
If you get services from a regional center, this pub tells you about your right to register to vote. It tells you who can register to vote. It tells you how a regional center can help you.
California’s Top-Two Voting System
California has a “top-two” or “open” primary election. The top two candidates that win the primary are the ones on the November ballot. It does not matter if they are from the same party. This very short pub tells you more about this type of primary.