By Katy St. Clair. Bay City News.
Listen to this note:
Monday is the deadline for California voters to register to vote in the Nov. 5 election, Secretary of State Shirley Weber announced, though anyone who misses the deadline can still participate in “same-day” voter registration up to Election Day.
Voter registration can be done at county election offices, but if mailed or submitted online, it must be postmarked or submitted electronically no later than October 21, 2024.
Californians can register at registertovote.ca.govVoters who are unsure of their registration can check it online at voterstatus.sos.ca.gov.
Those who prefer to register using a paper voter registration application may pick one up at their county elections office, library, Department of Motor Vehicles offices, or the U.S. Post Office. It is important that the voter registration application be completed in its entirety and either postmarked or hand-delivered to the voter's county elections office.
All registered voters will receive a mail-in ballot, which they can complete, sign (the signature must match the signature on their driver's license or state ID, or the signature they provided when they registered to vote), and then return.
There are several ways to return a ballot by mail. Voters can drop it off at an official secure drop box in their county or anywhere in the state any time between now and 8 p.m. on Nov. 5.
Ballots can also be dropped off in person by 8 p.m. Nov. 5 at any voting location or center in the state, or at the voter's county election office. Finally, you can mail in the ballot by dropping it in a drop box. Ballots must be postmarked by Nov. 5, but no stamp is required, Weber's office said.
A complete list of mailbox locations can be found at caearlyvoting.sos.ca.govTo track your ballot, visit whereismyballot.sos.ca.gov.
According to Weber’s office, citizens who miss the Oct. 21 registration deadline have the option to participate in the “same-day” voter registration process at their local county elections office or at any in-person polling location throughout Election Day.
Californians who participate in same-day registration, also known as “conditional” registration, will be asked to complete a voter registration form and will be provided with a ballot. These ballots will be counted once the county office has completed the voter registration verification process.
The California Secretary of State maintains a voter information hotline that is available to all voters with questions. For English, call (800) 345-8683; for Spanish, call (800) 232-8682. Several other languages are also available for assistance.
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