Register to Vote
 

The first step to participating in an upcoming election is registering to vote or updating your Voter Registration information if you have moved or changed your name. You can register to vote here or update your information at any time.

In addition to being able to register to vote at any time, the State of California has a program called California Motor Voter. Eligible applicants completing a driver's license, identification (ID) card, or change of address transaction online, by mail, or in person at the DMV will be automatically registered to vote by the California Secretary of State, unless they opt out of automatic voter registration. For more information, go to California Motor Voter.

Choosing a Party Affiliation

When you register to vote, you have the option to choose a specific political party or to 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 anytime. You must complete a new Voter Registration form 15 days before the election.

For more information – www.registertovote.ca.gov

Get the Facts Before You Vote—VOTE411.org

Launched by the League of Women Voters Education Fund (LWVEF) in October 2006, VOTE411.org is a "one-stop-shop" for election-related information. It provides nonpartisan information to the public with both general and state-specific information on the following aspects of the election process:

• Absentee ballot information
• Ballot measure information (where applicable)
• Early voting options (where applicable)
• Election dates
• Factual data on candidates in various federal, state, and local races
• General information on such topics as how to watch debates with a critical eye
• ID requirements
• Polling place locations
• Registration deadlines
• Voter qualifications
• Voter registration forms
• Voting machines

An important component of VOTE411.org is the polling place locator, which enables users to type in their address and retrieve the poll location for the voting precinct in which that address is located. The League has found that this information is among the most sought-after in the immediate days leading up to and on Election Day.

In addition to Vote411.org, our League offers many ways to prepare for the next election:

	Candidate Forums The League organizes and moderates Candidate Forums for local City Councils, San Mateo County Supervisors, Local School Districts, and other various elected positions in South San Mateo County. Ask your questions and learn about the candidate’s positions on local issues.
	State Propositions The League provides Pros and Cons presentations that are a nonpartisan explanation of state propositions, with supporting and opposing arguments.
	Next Election Get important information on the upcoming election – how to register, various voting methods available to you, voting locations, and links to additional voter information resources.