Short basic voter resources for new potential voters. With some California specific details

1. Voter How To 101
Remember Deadline To Register
October 19, 2020

2. Qualifications to Register to Vote
To register to vote in California, you must be:
• A United States citizen and a resident of California
There are special instructions for voters in the Military or Oversees (out of the
U.S.)
• 18 years old or older on Election Day
• Not currently in state or federal prison or on parole for the conviction of a felony
• There is more special information on voting rights for persons with a criminal
history
• Not currently found mentally incompetent to vote by a court (for more information
See special instructions for persons subject to Conservatorship at;
https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voter-registration

3. Qualifications to Pre-register to Vote
If you will turn 18 years of age prior to the next election you can pre-register to vote in
that election
• In California, you must:
• Be 16 or 17 years old, and
• Meet all of the other eligibility requirements to vote
You will automatically be registered to vote on your 18th birthday.

4. HOW TO REGISTER?
You Can Register Online Right Now
To Obtain a Paper Voter Registration Application
If you would like to register using a paper voter registration application, you can pick one
up at
• Your county elections office
• Public library
• Department of Motor Vehicles offices
• 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
To request a paper voter registration application be mailed to you, please call (800) 345-
VOTE(8683) or email the Elections Division by going to
https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/contact/email-elections-division

5. SAMPLE VOTER REGISTRATION CARD AND PRE REGISTRATION CARD
You can register to vote online right now at https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voter-registration
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. The deadline to register is OCTOBER 19, 2020

6. GREAT INTERNET VOTER RESOURCES
American Sign Language Instruction -- Filling out voter registration
https://youtu.be/iPNPgusABlE
Confused About Voting Processes In Your State? Visit
https://www.betterknowaballot.com/
• Even if there is no video for your state the site still provides valuable voter
resources and links for every state
• And don’t worry… your state video is coming!! The site is updated frequently and
before the 2020 November election will have a video for all 50 states and the
District of Columbia (D.C.)

7. VOTING INFORMATION AND RESOURCES SPECIFICALLY FOR CALIFORNIA AND BE
FOUND AT
https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voter-registration
Here you can find election and voter information including
• Statewide Election results
• Voter Registration
• Voter Pre-registration
• Check On Your Voter Registration Status
• Voter Registration Statistics
• Information On Ballot Measures
A ballot measure is an idea or proposal that starts as a petition that gains
enough signatures from registered voters so that it is added to ballot to be voted
on by the general public.
• Voting In California
• When, Where and How To Vote

8. CONTINUE………. Voter Resources at
https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voter-registration
• Who Can Vote In California
• Location of Election Offices
The site also provides
• Election Results
• Voter News and Updates
• And Information on POLITICAL PARTIES (Qualified Parties, parties attempting to
qualify, meaning of “no party preference” status

9. BEING A SMART AND PREPARED VOTER ISN’T A ONE TIME THING
It Means Working To Be An Informed Citizen
• Staying Current About Important Issues
• Figuring Out What Issues Are Important And How They Affect You
• Knowing Your Federal, State and Local Government Leaders And What They Stand For, And
Believe In
• It Means Not Getting Your information From Friends Or Social Media
• You Need To Form Your Own Opinions
• You Have To Do Some Reading and Research Credible, Trusted, Authoritative Sources
That Aren’t Skewed Or Biased
• You Need To Learn To Detect Fake, False or Misleading Information
Here’s a website that has the goal of helping better understand and engage in politics, help
with understanding issues and the positions elected officials have.
https://www.astartingpoint.com/