Register and Vote as if your life depends on it

Are you eligible to vote? Don’t squander that precious right — make sure you’re registered, and make sure your registration is accurate! The deadline to register for California’s June 5, 2018 primary is May 21, 2018.

Go through these questions right now to make sure your voice is heard and counted:

• Are you eligible to vote, but not registered? Pick up a paper application, fill it out and put it in the mail – no postage required! You can find a paper application at lots of places, including:
  • county elections offices
  • the DMV
  • government offices
  • post offices
  • public libraries
• Do you want to register online? If so, you’ll need:
  • your California driver license or I.D. card number,
  • the last four digits of your social security number, and
  • your date of birth.

  Your info will be provided to CA Department of Motor Vehicles to retrieve a copy of your DMV signature. Don’t have one of those I.D.s, or have other questions? See more at the CA Secretary of State’s Election Division FAQ or contact them at 800-345-VOTE (8683) or by email.

• Is your registration accurate? Have you checked? Many voter registrations have errors – check yours.
• Do you need to re-register? Check here, and if you need to, please re-register. These are some (not all) of the reasons you must re-register to vote:
  • you moved since you last registered
  • you legally changed your name since you last registered
  • you want to change your political party

• Do you know any 16- or 17-year olds? They may be eligible to pre-register if they’ll be 18 by the time of the election. Check their eligibility and help them pre-register (either online or using the paper form) so they can vote once they turn 18.
• Do you have a criminal record, or have you been incarcerated? You may still be able to vote! In California, you can vote if you’re not currently in state or federal prison, or on parole for the conviction of a felony.  Once you’re done with parole your right to vote is restored, but you must re-register.
• Finally: ask everyone you know the above questions, and help them out if they need it.

Important dates and other info:

• Register to vote by Monday, May 21, 2018
• Statewide Direct Primary Election Day is June 5, 2018

Early Voting and other ways to vote:

• Alameda County: the website tells you about early voting, voting by mail, dropping off your ballot, and more
• Contra Costa County: early voting sites will be open Tuesday, May 29 through Friday, June 1 from 11 am to 7 pm, and Saturday, June 2 from 8 am to 5 pm

Learn more, and help register and pre-register voters!

• Learn about your county’s election processes, including the different ways you can vote and much more:
  • Alameda County 
  • Contra Costa County
  • The Contra Costa County Elections Division provides a very helpful guide to how you can help people in different communities determine their eligibility to vote, and much more. See the Situational Resource Guide for Voter Advocates.
  • See Vote.org’s California Election Center. Sign up for election reminders.
• Head Count guide for school and community voter registration drives 
• League of Women Voters guide

Send this info to your family and friends in states other than California:

• Vote.org offers lots of information, and it’s easy to remember (note that it requires you to provide an email address)
• Indivisible has partnered with TurboVote to help you sign up to get election reminders, register to vote, apply for your absentee ballot, and more
• The National Association of Secretaries of States’ website helps eligible voters figure out how and where to vote