The League of Women Voters believes every citizen should participate in our democratic election process. This process gives you the opportunity to choose your representatives at every level of government — Federal, State, and Local.
Why You Should Vote
- Representation: By voting, you contribute to selecting candidates who will best represent your interests, perspectives, and values in government and work towards your desired outcomes.
- Accountability: When you vote, you hold officials responsible for their actions and decisions. If they do not fulfill their promises or act against the interests of their constituents, voters have the power to elect new representatives in the next election cycle.
- Policy Impact: Whether it's healthcare, education, the environment, the economy, or social issues, your vote influences the decisions that will affect these areas. Voting gives you the opportunity to support candidates who align with your stance on these issues.
Who Can Register to Vote
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You do not need to know how to read or write in English or any other language. English, Spanish, Hindi, Chinese, Japanese, Khmer, Korean, Tagalog, Thai, and Vietnamese languages are available.
Choosing a Party Affiliation
When you register to vote, you have the option to choose a specific political party, or you can choose No Party Preference.
A political party is a group of people who share the same ideas about how the government should be run and what it should do. They work together to win elections and achieve their goals.
You can learn about what a specific party stands for by visiting their official websites:
- California Democrats – www.cadem.org
- California Republicans – www.cagop.org
- Green – www.cagreens.org
- Libertarian – www.ca.lp.org
- Peace and Freedom – www.peaceandfreedom.org
If you choose No Party Preference, you may have limited choices for party candidates in Presidential Primary Elections. Some parties require you to be registered with their specific party to vote for their candidates.
You can change your political party registration at any time. You will need to complete a new Voter Registration form 15 days before the election.
For more information – www.registertovote.ca.gov
Registration Deadlines and Same Day Voting
- All elections have a deadline for voters to register or reregister to vote. Deadline dates are noted on registertovote.ca.gov months before the election.
- If you are registering or re-registering less than 14 days before an election, you need to complete the Same-Day Voter Registration process. You need to go to your nearest Vote Center or to your county elections office and request your ballot in person.
- If you are a Californian living away from home while attending a college, trade school or technical school, or a voter living temporarily outside the United States, please see College Students and Voters Living Abroad.
- If you would like to register using a paper voter registration application, you can pick one up at your county elections office, library, Department of Motor Vehicles offices, or U.S. post office. It is important that your voter registration application be filled out completely and be postmarked or hand-delivered to your county elections office at least 15 days before the election.
What You Will Need to Register to Vote Online
- Your California driver license or California identification card number
- The last four digits of your social security number
- Your date of birth
You can complete the process online if the DMV has your signature on file. If not, you must print, sign, and mail your completed application to your county elections office. You can also pick up a paper application at election offices, any DMV office, and many post offices, public libraries, and government offices. You’ll be contacted when your application is approved or if you need to provide more information.
