Voting
1. You have the right to cast a ballot if you are a valid registered voter without showing ID.
A valid registered voter means a United States citizen who is a resident in this state, who is at least 18 years of age and not in prison or on parole for conviction of a felony, and who is registered to vote at his or her current residence address.
California law doesn’t require you to show ID in order to vote. If you are asked to show ID and you have it with you, you should do so. HOWEVER, if you do not have ID, YOU CAN ALWAYS VOTE A “PROVISIONAL BALLOT.
2. You have the right to cast a provisional ballot if your name is not listed on the voting rolls
IF THERE IS EVER A QUESTION ABOUT YOUR RIGHT TO VOTE, YOU CAN ALWAYS VOTE BY “PROVISIONAL BALLOT.” You can vote a provisional ballot at ANY polling place in your city. Be sure to fill out your address and sign your “Provisional Ballot” before turning it in!
You should vote provisional if:
- You are asked to show ID but don’t have any with you.
- Elections officials can’t confirm your registration.
- Records show you have moved.
- You are at a polling place outside your home precinct.
- You never received or failed to turn in your Absentee Ballot.
3. You have the right to cast a ballot if you are present and in line at the polling place prior to the close of the polls at 8:00PM
4. You have the right to cast a secret ballot free from intimidation.
5. If at any time before you finally cast your ballot, you feel you have made a mistake, you have the right to twice exchange the spoiled ballot for a new ballot. Vote-by-mail voters may also request and receive a new ballot if they return their spoiled ballot to an elections official prior to the closing of the polls on election day.
6. You have the right to receive assistance in casting your ballot, if you are unable to vote without assistance.
If you need help voting because of a disability: If you can’t read or write, have a language barrier or have a physical disability, you can ask for assistance and take someone in the booth with you.
If your polling place is inaccessible because you have a physical disability: You can always have a precinct worker come outside the polling place and allow you to vote there.
7. You have the right to return a completed vote-by-mail ballot to any precinct in the county.
8. If you need time off from work to vote… you can take up to two hours off work to vote without loss of pay by giving your employer notice in advance (usually the Friday before elections).
9. You have the right to ask questions about election procedures and observe the election process.
10. You have the right to ask questions of the precinct board and elections officials regarding election procedures and to receive an answer or be directed to the appropriate official for an answer. However, if persistent questioning disrupts the execution of their duties, the board or election officials may discontinue responding to questions.
11. If you believe you have been denied any of these rights,or you are aware of any election fraud or misconduct, call ANCA-Western Region at 818.806.8683 or the Secretary of State’s confidential toll-free Voter Hotline at (800) 345-VOTE (8683). You have the right to report any illegal or fraudulent activity to a local elections official or to the Secretary of State’s Office.
For additional information, please call 818.243.3444.