Election Day is just weeks away, and the deadline to register to vote in California is quickly approaching.
Though the clock is ticking, eligible Californians still have time to register and participate in one of the state's most closely watched elections, featuring the governor's race and a slate of high-profile ballot measures.
Here's what to know as the deadline to register to vote approaches, including how to check if you're a registered voter.
When is the deadline to register to vote?
The last day to register to vote in the general election is Monday, Oct. 19.
How to check if you're registered to vote in California
If you're not sure if you're registered to vote, you can check your voter registration status on the California Secretary of State's website.
The online form asks for identifying information, including your first and last name,
date of birth, California driver's license or identification card number, and the last four digits of your Social Security number.
After submitting the form, you'll be directed to a page showing whether your voter registration is active. If it is, you'll be able to see your political party preference and the county where you're registered to vote.
How to register to vote in California
If you're not registered to vote, you can register online through the California Secretary of State's website.
You'll be asked to complete an online application, which will require you to provide information confirming eligibility to vote, personal details, and voting preferences.
"You can also pick up an application at your county elections office, any Department of Motor Vehicles office, and many post offices, public libraries, and government offices," the state's website says. "To have a paper application mailed to you, call your county elections office or the Secretary of State's toll-free voter hotline at (800) 345-VOTE (8683)."
What if I miss the voter registration deadline?
If you miss the Oct. 19 deadline to register to vote, you can still vote in the November election. You will need to go to your county elections office, vote center, or polling place on or before Election Day to complete conditional voter registration, also called same-day voter registration, according to state officials.
You can find a list of county elections offices on the California Secretary of State's website.
Will all voters receive a mail-in ballot?
All registered voters in California will receive a vote-by-mail ballot for the November general election.
How to get a replacement ballot
If you do not receive your ballot in the mail or your original ballot is lost or damaged, you can apply for a replacement ballot.
After you fill out a replacement ballot application, which you can find on the California Secretary of State's website, you can return it to your county elections office.
How to return a mail-in ballot for the general election
Once you have filled out your mail-in ballot, you can return it via mail, drop box, or in person at a dedicated voting center.
If you are voting by mail, it must be postmarked on or before Nov. 3. Officials recommend getting a manual postmark from a postal worker inside a United States Post Office if you're mailing your ballot on Election Day. County elections officials must receive your ballot no later than Nov. 10.
You can return your mail-in ballot in person at your county elections office or at any polling or ballot drop-off location by 8 p.m. on Nov. 3.
To find your nearest drop box, polling place or vote center, visit caearlyvoting.sos.ca.gov.
Some counties also offer what’s called “Sign, Scan and Go,” which lets voters cast mail-in ballots as in-person ballots on Election Day for immediate counting at voting sites or county elections offices, according to Kim Alexander, president of the California Voter Foundation. Voters can bring their completed mail-in ballot, sign a roster under penalty of perjury, as all in-person voters do, and have the ballot counted without signature verification.
California Voter Foundation's survey found that 31 counties across the state offered this option to voters for the June primary.
How to vote in person
To vote in person on Election Day, you can do so at your designated polling place between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m. on Nov. 3.
Your Voter Information Guide will include your polling place. You can also find your polling place on theCalifornia Secretary of State’s website or by calling: (800) 345-VOTE (8683).
What if signature on mail-in ballot does not match records?
With each mail-in ballot, election officials verify that the signature on a voter's voter registration card matches the signature on the ballot's envelope.
Should election officials find a signature is missing or does not match, you will be notified and given a deadline to fix the signature.
How to track your November ballot
You can track the status of your ballot using the state’s Where's My Ballot tracking tool.
The service, powered by BallotTrax, lets voters see when their vote‑by‑mail ballot is mailed, received, and counted. It also allows you to sign up for automatic email, SMS (text), or voice call notifications about your ballot’s status.
Voters can sign up by visiting the BallotTrax website.
Key dates for California's November general election
Here are some key upcoming dates for California's general election:
- Between Sept. 24 and Oct. 13: Secretary of State will mail the Voter Information Guide
- Between Sept. 24 and Oct. 13: County elections officials will mail the County Voter Information Guide
- Oct. 5: No later than this date, county elections officials will begin mailing registered voters vote-by-mail ballots
- Oct. 5: Early voting sites open
- Oct. 6: Ballot drop-off locations open
- Oct. 19: Last day to register to vote in the general election
- Oct. 20: Same-day registration is available
- Oct. 20: Voter's Choice Act counties open vote centers
- Nov. 3: Election Day. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: What to know before California's voter registration deadline
