QUESTIONS ABOUT VOTING
Question: How can I vote a Vote-By-Mail ballot?
Answer: Any registered voter may vote by a "vote-by-mail" ballot.
You may vote a vote-by-mail ballot by:
- Applying in writing to your county elections official; or
- Completing the vote-by-mail ballot application that is included in your Sample Ballot, which
your county elections official will mail to you prior to each election; or
- Downloading and completing a vote-by-mail ballot application
from our web site.
Question: When may I apply for a vote-by-mail ballot?
Answer: Elections officials process applications 29 days to 7 days before an election.
You may request a vote-by-mail ballot more than 29 days before an election, but not fewer
than 7 days in advance.
Question: When is the last day to return my voted vote-by-mail ballot?
Answer: Vote-by-mail ballots must be received by the elections official no later than the close
of polls (8 p.m.) on Election Day.
Question: How do I turn in my vote-by-mail ballot on Election Day?
Answer:You may return it in person to any polling place in your county or to the county elections
office on Election Day. If, because of illness or physical disability, you are unable to return the
ballot yourself, you may designate a spouse, child, parent, grandparent, sibling,
or a person residing in the same household to return the ballot to the elections
official or the precinct board at any polling place within the jurisdiction. The ballot
must be received by the elections official or the precinct
board before the close of the polls (8 p.m.) on Election Day in order to be counted.
Question: Can anyone distribute vote-by-mail ballot applications?
Answer: Yes, according to California Elections laws, individuals, organizations and groups may
distribute vote-by-mail ballot applications; however, they must use the uniform format as specified in
the California Elections Code. A copy of the application form is available by clicking on
Vote-By-Mail Voting.
Question: Where is my polling place?
Answer: Your polling place location will be printed on the Sample Ballot you receive from
your local county elections official prior to an election. You may also
contact your local county elections office for polling place information. Approximately one month prior to all primary and
general elections, the Secretary of State's office will have a polling place lookup feature
on this web site.
Question: What hours are polling place locations open?
Answer: All polling place locations are open on the day of an election from 7:00am until
8:00pm.
Question: How do I find out what my legislative and congressional districts are?
Answer:You may contact your county elections official (click on
"Who Is My County Elections Official?") or click on
"Who Are My Representatives?".
Question: Why was my precinct/polling place changed?
Answer: Counties try to use the same polling place for each countywide election so
your polling place normally does not change between the primary and the general
election. If the county is conducting smaller local elections -- where the turnout will
be lower -- the county may not need as many polling places so it may consolidate
precincts into fewer polling places. In this case, your "usual" polling place could
change... sometimes across town. This can be confusing.
You can always determine where your polling place is by looking at the back of your
sample ballot, which you will receive from your county elections office. The back cover
contains the name and address of your polling place. You can also call your
county elections office, and they will tell you where
your polling place is located.
You also have the option of applying, to your county elections office, for
permanent vote-by-mail voter status. For each election in which you are eligible to vote,
your county elections office will automatically send you the appropriate ballot. All
you will need to do is vote, provide the required information, and return the voted
ballot to your county elections office by close of the polls (8:00 p.m.) on Election
Day. For more information on how to apply for permanent vote-by-mail voter status, please
click on the following link:
Permanent Vote-By-Mail Voting.
Question: Why am I in a mail ballot (vote-by-mail) precinct?
Answer: State election law provides that precincts with fewer than 250 voters may
be sent vote-by-mail ballots instead of setting up a polling place (Elections Code ยง 3005).
Upon receiving a vote-by-mail ballot, all you need to do is vote for the contests on the
ballot, provide the required information, and mail the voted ballot back to your county
elections office. It must be received in your county elections office by the close of
the polls (8:00 p.m.) on Election Day.
If you cannot mail your voted vote-by-mail ballot to your county elections office, you can
cast your voted ballot at any polling place in your county by the close of the polls
(8:00 p.m.) on Election Day. To determine the location of a nearby polling place, you
can contact your county elections office. By clicking on the following link, you can
find county contact information: County Elections Officials.
Question: Is there a toll-free telephone number I can call regarding voter information?
Answer: Yes. The Secretary of State has established a toll-free hotline for requests for
voter registration forms and to report suspicions of voting or registration irregularities.
The number is 1-800-345-VOTE.
Question: Are election returns for state offices on the Internet somewhere?
Answer: We have put the election results from past statewide elections on
our web site. You may retrieve election results by
clicking on "Election Results and Election
Dates."
Question: What can be done to increase voter participation?
Answer: The Secretary of State's office has been working with youth organizations, community
partners, and minority organizations to increase voter participation. We are always
looking for better ways to reach out and engage citizens in the voting process.
Please look at our Voter Education web page to
learn about some of the programs and events we are currently working on.
QUESTIONS ABOUT BALLOT MEASURES
Question: When are numbers assigned to Propositions?
Answer: Ballot measures are numbered between 131 and 105 days before the election.
Question: How can I learn more about California's statewide initiative
process?
Answer: Read our Initiative Guide Handbook
(available in PDF and HTML format).
Question: How many signatures does it take to qualify a statewide initiative?
Answer: The number of signatures required for initiative statutes must be equal
to at least 5% of the total votes cast for Governor at the last gubernatorial
election. The number of signatures required for initiative constitutional
amendments must be equal to at least 8% of the total votes cast for Governor at the
last gubernatorial election.
Question: When is the deadline for initiatives to qualify for the ballot?
Answer: Measures have to qualify by 131 days before the election, thereby allowing adequate
time to produce the ballot pamphlet and air both sides of the issues.
QUESTIONS ABOUT RUNNING FOR OFFICE
Question: What are the requirements for persons who want to run for office - what
qualifications do they have to meet?
Answer: These requirements are specific to the office. Candidate qualifications and requirements are posted
on our
Candidate Information web page.
Question: When do candidates have to file their various official documents in order to
become certified for the next statewide election cycle?
Answer: Please look at our Candidate Information
web page for information on candidate filing deadlines.