2024 General Election: How to register to vote in California, check your registration status

WARRANT OUT OF TEXAS AND WE’RE NOW JUST TWO WEEKS OUT FROM ELECTION DAY. ALREADY, NEARLY 2 MILLION BALLOTS HAVE BEEN RETURNED IN CALIFORNIA, AND THAT LEAVES TENS OF MILLIONS NOT JUST IN THE GOLDEN STATE, BUT ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY. AS ELECTION DAY GETS CLOSER. OUR TEAM IS KEEPING YOU INFORMED AND MAKING SURE THAT YOU ARE READY TO HIT THE POLLS. KCRA 3’S MIKE TESELLE JOINING US NOW LIVE FROM OUTSIDE THE SACRAMENTO COUNTY ELECTIONS OFFICE TO EXPLAIN HOW YOU CAN STILL REGISTER TO VOTE, EVEN IF YOU MISSED YESTERDAY’S DEADLINE. MIKE. YEAH. AND MELANIE RIGHT BEHIND US, AS YOU WERE TALKING, THIS GENTLEMAN DRIVING UP TO THE BALLOT BOX OUTSIDE THE SACRAMENTO COUNTY ELECTION HEADQUARTERS. ADDING TO THAT EARLY VOTE TOTAL DROPPING OFF HIS BALLOT IN THAT PINK DROP BOX. AND IF YOU’RE WONDERING, WAIT A MINUTE. I THINK I MISSED YESTERDAY’S DEADLINE TO REGISTER TO VOTE IN THIS ELECTION. FEAR NOT. TAKE A LOOK. THERE IS STILL HOPE BECAUSE EVEN IF YOU DIDN’T REGISTER BY YESTERDAY’S DEADLINE, THERE IS A LAW IN CALIFORNIA KNOWN AS THE CONDITIONAL VOTER REGISTRATION LAW. THAT IS ESSENTIALLY, AS THE SECRETARY OF STATE’S OFFICE SAYS, IS A SAFETY NET FOR THOSE WHO MISSED THE OFFICIAL DEADLINE TO REGISTER FOR THIS ELECTION. IT ALLOWS YOU TO REGISTER OR REREGISTER TO VOTE FROM NOW UNTIL ELECTION DAY WITH A CONDITIONAL VOTER BALLOT. SO WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? WELL, IT’S ACTUALLY QUITE SIMPLE HERE BECAUSE YOU CAN GO INTO ANY COUNTY ELECTION HEADQUARTERS, ANY EARLY VOTING CENTER THAT OPENS THIS WEEKEND OR A POLLING PLACE ON ELECTION NIGHT. AND YOU CAN DO A CONDITIONAL BALLOT REGISTRATION ONCE YOU VOTE YOUR BALLOT, YOUR VOTE WILL ULTIMATELY BE COUNTED AND ADDED TO THE FINAL TALLY. THE ONLY DIFFERENCE HERE WITH THE CONDITIONAL BALLOT IS IF YOU QUALIFY. COUNTY OFFICIALS STILL NEED TO COMPLETE THE VERIFICATION PROCESS FOR YOUR REGISTRATION, WHICH MEANS THERE COULD POTENTIALLY BE A DELAY OR A LAG TIME BETWEEN THE TIME YOU VOTE AND THE TIME YOUR VOTE IS ULTIMATELY ADDED TO THE FINAL VOTE TALLY. BUT BACK OUT HERE LIVE. ONE OF THE EASIEST WAYS AGAIN, TO MAKE SURE YOU’RE REGISTERED FOR THIS ELECTION. AS I WALK OUT OF THE WAY HERE BECAUSE THERE’S ANOTHER VOTER DROPPING OFF YET ANOTHER BALLOT HERE, ONE OF THOSE ALREADY REGISTERED EARLY VOTE BY MAIL BALLOTS BEING DROPPED OFF HERE. THE EASIEST WAY FOR YOU TO GET IN ON A CONDITIONAL VOTER BALLOT IF YOU MISSED THE REGISTRATION DEADLINE, YOU CAN STOP BY YOUR COUNTY’S ELECTION HEADQUARTERS STARTING NOW, OR YOU CAN GO TO ANY ONE OF THOSE EARLY VOTING CENTERS. THEY OPEN UP THIS WEEKEND, STARTING ON SATURDAY, ALL ACROSS THE STATE. SO TO FIND AN EARLY VOTE CENTER CLOSEST TO YOU, YOU CAN GO TO OUR WEBSITE KCRA DOT COM AND FIND RIGHT THERE WAYS TO VOTE ON OUR WEBSITE THAT WILL GIVE YOU A LINK TO TYPE IN YOUR ADDRESS, YOUR ZIP CODE TO FIND THE EARLY VOTING CENTER CLOSEST TO YOU. LIVE IN SACRAMENTO COUNTY THIS MORNING, WHERE PEOPLE CONTINUE TO DROP OFF THEIR BALLOTS TWO WEEKS BEFORE ELECTION DAY. MIKE TESELLE KCRA THREE NEWS. MIKE, THANK YOU FOR THAT REPORT. AND SO FAR, MORE THAN 1.9 MILLION BALLOTS HAVE BEEN RETURNED IN CALIFORNIA. THAT IS 9% OF ALL OF THE BALLOTS THAT HAVE BEEN MAILED OUT. A MAJORITY OF THOSE BALLOTS ARE COMING FRO

Are you registered to vote in California? County elections officials have mailed vote-by-mail ballots to all active registered voters for the 2024 Nov. 5 General Election. Leer en español.The last day to register to vote for this election and have your vote count immediately when it's tallied was Oct. 21. But even if you missed that deadline you can still make your voice heard with conditional voter registration, also known as same-day voter registration. Below is information on how to register for the election, how to check your registration status, how to sign up for same-day voter registration if you missed the October deadline and how teens can pre-register to vote so they get automatically registered once they turn 18. | MORE | See our comprehensive 2024 California voter guide here | Learn about all 10 propositions on the ballotWhat are the qualifications to register to vote in California?You must be: A California resident who is a United States citizen18 years old or older on Election Day Not currently serving a state or federal prison term for a conviction of a felonyNot currently found mentally incompetent to vote by a court | MORE | What to know about voting if you're an eligible inmate | How you can register to vote if you're unhousedWhat happens if you missed the Oct. 21, 2024, voter registration deadline? Can you still vote on Election Day?If you missed the Oct. 21 voter registration deadline, you can still "conditionally" register and vote at your county elections office, polling place or vote center in the 14 days leading up to the election. These ballots are processed and counted after your voter registration is verified. Learn more here.Where to register to vote in California (before the deadline)? OnlineYou can register to vote online at registertovote.ca.gov. Paper registration processIf you would like to use a paper voter registration process, you can pick up an application at your county election office, library, DMV office or a U.S. post office. But make sure that it is filled out and postmarked or hand-delivered to your county election office at least 15 days before the election (Oct. 21, 2024). You can also have a paper application mailed to you by calling 800-345-VOTE (8683) or by emailing here. Learn more here.Safe at Home participantsThere is a separate process for people to register online if they are enrolled in a confidential address program like Safe at Home. If sharing your address could put you in danger, you may be able to register by contacting the Safe at Home program at 877-322-5227 or visiting this website. California Motor VoterEligible applicants completing a driver's license, ID card or change of address transaction online, by mail or in person at the DMV will be automatically registered to vote unless they opt out. You can learn more here. What do you need to register to vote?If you are registering to vote online you'll need to provide:Your California driver's license or California ID card numberThe last four digits of your social security number Your date of birthHow can 16-year-olds and 17-year-olds pre-register to vote? Eligible California residents in this category can pre-register online here. They will be automatically registered to vote once they turn 18. How to check if you are already registered to vote? You can check your California voter registration status here. This tool on the Secretary of State's website can also help with checking where you are registered to vote, your party preference, the status of vote-by-mail or provisional ballots and other voting history.The tool asks for you to provide your name, birthday, California driver's license or ID number and the last four digits of your social security number. How to register to vote if you're a college student living away from home or temporarily living outside the U.S.? Click here for more information. When to re-register to voteYou should re-register to vote when you change your residence address or mailing address, if you change your name or if you change your political party choice.What if you still have questions? You can see a list of more FAQs or contact the Secretary of State's Elections Division at 800-345-VOTE (8683) or email them here. See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter

Are you registered to vote in California?

County elections officials have mailed vote-by-mail ballots to all active registered voters for the 2024 Nov. 5 General Election.

Leer en español.

The last day to register to vote for this election and have your vote count immediately when it's tallied was Oct. 21. But even if you missed that deadline you can still make your voice heard with conditional voter registration, also known as same-day voter registration.

Below is information on how to register for the election, how to check your registration status, how to sign up for same-day voter registration if you missed the October deadline and how teens can pre-register to vote so they get automatically registered once they turn 18.

| MORE | See our comprehensive 2024 California voter guide here | Learn about all 10 propositions on the ballot

What are the qualifications to register to vote in California?

You must be:

A California resident who is a United States citizen
18 years old or older on Election Day
Not currently serving a state or federal prison term for a conviction of a felony
Not currently found mentally incompetent to vote by a court

| MORE | What to know about voting if you're an eligible inmate | How you can register to vote if you're unhoused

What happens if you missed the Oct. 21, 2024, voter registration deadline? Can you still vote on Election Day?

If you missed the Oct. 21 voter registration deadline, you can still "conditionally" register and vote at your county elections office, polling place or vote center in the 14 days leading up to the election. These ballots are processed and counted after your voter registration is verified. Learn more here.

Where to register to vote in California (before the deadline)?

Online

You can register to vote online at registertovote.ca.gov.

Paper registration process

If you would like to use a paper voter registration process, you can pick up an application at your county election office, library, DMV office or a U.S. post office. But make sure that it is filled out and postmarked or hand-delivered to your county election office at least 15 days before the election (Oct. 21, 2024). You can also have a paper application mailed to you by calling 800-345-VOTE (8683) or by emailing here. Learn more here.

Safe at Home participants

There is a separate process for people to register online if they are enrolled in a confidential address program like Safe at Home. If sharing your address could put you in danger, you may be able to register by contacting the Safe at Home program at 877-322-5227 or visiting this website.

California Motor Voter

Eligible applicants completing a driver's license, ID card or change of address transaction online, by mail or in person at the DMV will be automatically registered to vote unless they opt out. You can learn more here.

What do you need to register to vote?

If you are registering to vote online you'll need to provide:

Your California driver's license or California ID card number
The last four digits of your social security number
Your date of birth

How can 16-year-olds and 17-year-olds pre-register to vote?

Eligible California residents in this category can pre-register online here. They will be automatically registered to vote once they turn 18.

How to check if you are already registered to vote?

You can check your California voter registration status here. This tool on the Secretary of State's website can also help with checking where you are registered to vote, your party preference, the status of vote-by-mail or provisional ballots and other voting history.

The tool asks for you to provide your name, birthday, California driver's license or ID number and the last four digits of your social security number.

How to register to vote if you're a college student living away from home or temporarily living outside the U.S.?

Click here for more information.

When to re-register to vote

You should re-register to vote when you change your residence address or mailing address, if you change your name or if you change your political party choice.

What if you still have questions?

You can see a list of more FAQs or contact the Secretary of State's Elections Division at 800-345-VOTE (8683) or email them here.

See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter

2024 General Election: How to register to vote in California, check your registration status

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What are the qualifications to register to vote in California?

What happens if you missed the Oct. 21, 2024, voter registration deadline? Can you still vote on Election Day?

Where to register to vote in California (before the deadline)?

What do you need to register to vote?

How can 16-year-olds and 17-year-olds pre-register to vote?

How to check if you are already registered to vote?

How to register to vote if you're a college student living away from home or temporarily living outside the U.S.?

When to re-register to vote

What if you still have questions?

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