Register to Vote
If you recently submitted a voter registration form, please know that it may take a few days to process your registration.
Who Can Register to Vote
You may register to vote in California if you are:
- A U.S. citizen
- A California resident
- At least 18 years old on or before the next election
- Not in state or federal prison for a felony conviction
- Not declared mentally incompetent by court action
You can pre-register to vote in California if you are:
- 16 or 17 years old
- Meet all the other requirements to vote
You will be automatically registered to vote on your 18th birthday.
Voter Notification Card
Within two to four weeks after registering or re-registering to vote, you will receive a Voter Notification Card in the mail. Review this card to make sure your information, such as your address and political party preference, is correct.
Check Your Registration
You can check your voter registration status at any time to make sure your information is current.
If you recently moved, changed your name, or want to change your political party, you must re-register to vote.
You can do this by completing a new voter registration application.
The Registrar of Voters office will use your most recent registration, so you do not need to cancel your previous registration unless you move out of the county.
You should be registered to vote at least 15 days before an election. If you miss the registration deadline for an upcoming election, you may still conditionally register and vote provisionally.
Voting materials are mailed to registered voters beginning 29 days before the election. Please check that your voter information is correct so your materials arrive on time.
Cancel My Voter Registration
You may cancel your registration at any time, or if you move to another county or state. You may also use this form to cancel the registration of someone who has passed away.
How We Use Your Information
Election officials use your voter registration information to send you official voting materials, such as your nearest vote center and the issues and candidates that will appear on your ballot.
Commercial use of voter registration information is prohibited by law and is a misdemeanor.
Voter information may be provided to candidates for office, ballot measure committees, or other individuals for election, scholarly, journalistic, political, or governmental purposes, as determined by the Secretary of State.
Your driver’s license number, Social Security number, and your signature from your voter registration application cannot be released for these purposes.
If you have any questions about the use of voter information or wish to report suspected misuse, please contact the Secretary of State’s Voter Protection and Assistance Hotline.
Certain voters facing life-threatening situations may qualify for confidential voter status. For more information, please contact the Secretary of State’s Safe at Home program.
Learn more about how your voter registration information is used.
Frequently Asked Questions
