Voting In California
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The policies governing voter participation are enacted and enforced primarily at the state level. These policies, which include voter identification requirements, early voting provisions, online voter registration systems, and more, dictate the conditions under which people cast their ballots in their respective states.
This article includes the following information about voting policies in California:
- Voter registration details, including deadlines and eligibility requirements.
- In-person voting details, including identification requirements, poll times, and early voting provisions.
- Absentee/mail-in voting deadlines and rules.
- Details about Voting rules for people convicted of a felony.
- Contact information for election agencies.
Click here for more information about election administration in the state, including voter list maintenance policies, provisional ballot rules, post-election auditing practices, and additional election policy context.
For information on this year's elections, click here.
Do you have questions about your elections? Looking for information about your local election official? Click here to use U.S. Vote Foundation’s election official lookup tool.
Voter registration[edit]
Eligibility and registration details[edit]
- Check your voter registration status here.
To vote in California, an individual must be a U.S. citizen and California resident. A voter must be at least 18 years of age on Election Day. Pre-registration is available at 16 years of age. Pre-registered voters are automatically registered to vote when they turn 18.[1]
In-person voting[edit]
Poll times[edit]
- See also: State poll opening and closing times
All polls in California are open from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Pacific Time. An individual who is in line at the time polls close must be allowed to vote.[2]
Voter identification[edit]
- See also: Voter identification laws by state
California does not require voters to present identification before casting a ballot in most cases. However, some voters may be asked to show a form of identification when voting if they are voting for the first time after registering to vote by mail and did not provide a driver license number, California identification number, or the last four digits of their social security number.[3][4] On September 29, 2024, Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) signed SB 1174 into law prohibiting any jurisdiction in the state from adopting a local law that requires voters to present ID before voting.[5]
The following list of accepted ID was current as of October 2024. Click here for the California Secretary of State page to ensure you have the most current information.
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Early voting[edit]
- See also: Early voting
California permits early voting. Learn more by visiting this website.
Early voting permits citizens to cast ballots in person at a polling place prior to an election. In states that permit no-excuse early voting, a voter does not have to provide an excuse for being unable to vote on Election Day. States that allow voters to cast no-excuse absentee/mail-in ballots in person are counted as no-excuse early voting states.
Forty-seven states and the District of Columbia permit no-excuse early voting.
Absentee/mail-in voting[edit]
- See also: Absentee/mail-in voting
California provides for universal, automatic mail-in voting in all elections. Local election officials automatically deliver mail-in ballots to all registered voters. Voters may also choose to cast their ballots in person.[7][8]
Local election officials[edit]
Do you need information about elections in your area? Are you looking for your local election official? Click here to visit the U.S. Vote Foundation and use their election official lookup tool. |
Voting rules for people convicted of a felony[edit]
- See also: Voting rights for people convicted of a felony
In California, people convicted of a felony have their right to vote automatically restored once they are released from prison. People serving felony sentences in state or federal prisons cannot vote, while people in jail who have not been convicted of a felony retain the right to vote.[9]
Voting rights for people convicted of a felony vary from state to state. In the majority of states, people convicted of a felony cannot vote while they are incarcerated but may regain the right to vote upon release from prison or at some point thereafter.[10]
Election administration agencies[edit]
Election agencies[edit]
- See also: State election agencies
Individuals seeking additional information about election administration in California can contact the following local, state, and federal agencies.
California County Elections offices
- Click here for a list
California Secretary of State, Elections Division
- 1500 11th Street, 5th Floor
- Sacramento, California 95814
- Phone: 916-653-6814
- Toll free: 1-800-345-8683
- Fax: 916-653-3214
- Email: https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/contact/email-elections-division
- Website: http://www.sos.ca.gov/
California Fair Political Practices Commission
- 1102 Q Street, Suite 3050
- Sacramento, California 95811
- Phone: 916-322-5660
- Fax: 916-322-0886
- Email: Cpra@fppc.ca.gov
- Website: http://www.fppc.ca.gov/
U.S. Election Assistance Commission
- 633 3rd Street NW, Suite 200
- Washington, DC 20001
- Phone: 301-563-3919
- Toll free: 1-866-747-1471
- Email: clearinghouse@eac.gov
- Website: https://www.eac.gov
Ballotpedia's Election Administration Legislation Tracker[edit]
State election laws are changing. Keeping track of the latest developments in all 50 states can seem like an impossible job.
Here's the solution: Ballotpedia's Election Administration Legislation Tracker.
Ballotpedia's Election Administration Tracker sets the industry standard for ease of use, flexibility, and raw power. But that's just the beginning of what it can do:
- Ballotpedia's election experts provide daily updates on bills and other relevant political developments.
- We translate complex bill text into easy-to-understand summaries written in everyday language.
- And because it's from Ballotpedia, our Tracker is guaranteed to be neutral, unbiased, and nonpartisan.
State of Election Administration Legislation Reports[edit]
Ballotpedia publishes regular analysis of election administration legislation, including three full reports per year, providing ongoing coverage of legislative activity affecting election policy in each state. These reports deliver insights into partisan priorities, dive deep into notable trends, and highlight activity in key states.
Below are links to the most recent editions. Click here to see all past reports, and be on the lookout for more throughout the year!
- State of Election Administration Legislation 2025 Spring Report
- State of Election Administration Legislation 2024 Year-End Report
- State of Election Administration Legislation 2024 Mid-Year Report
The Ballot Bulletin[edit]
The Ballot Bulletin is a weekly email that delivers the latest updates on election policy. The Ballot Bulletin tracks developments in election policy around the country, including legislative activity, big-picture trends, and recent news. Each email contains in-depth data from our Election Administration Legislation Tracker. You'll also be able to track relevant legislation, with links to and summaries of the bills themselves.
Recent issues[edit]
Click below to view recent issues of The Ballot Bulletin.
- The Ballot Bulletin: July 18, 2025
- The Ballot Bulletin: July 11, 2025
- The Ballot Bulletin: June 27, 2025
- The Ballot Bulletin: June 20, 2025
- The Ballot Bulletin: June 13, 2025
Subscribe[edit]
Enter your email address below to subscribe to The Ballot Bulletin.
Ballotpedia's election coverage[edit]
See also[edit]
- State of Election Administration Legislation Reports
- Voter ID in California
- Election administration in California
- Ballot access requirements for political candidates in California
Elections in California[edit]
- California elections, 2025
- California elections, 2024
- California elections, 2023
- California elections, 2022
- California elections, 2021
- California elections, 2020
- California elections, 2019
- California elections, 2018
- California elections, 2017
- California elections, 2016
- California elections, 2015
- California elections, 2014
External links[edit]
- Official state election website
- U.S. Vote Foundation election official lookup tool
Footnotes[edit]
- ↑ California Secretary of State, "Voter Registration," accessed August 13, 2024
- ↑ California Secretary of State, "Section 3: Polling Place Hours," accessed August 12, 2024
- ↑ California Secretary of State, "What to Bring to Your Polling Place," accessed August 12, 2024
- ↑ BARCLAYS OFFICIAL CALIFORNIA CODE OF REGULATIONS, "Section 20107," accessed August 12, 2024
- ↑ Democracy Docket, "California Governor Signs Law to Ban Local Voter ID Requirements," September 30, 2024
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ California Legislative Information, "Cal. Election Code § 3000.5," accessed August 13, 2024
- ↑ California Legislative Information, "AB-37 Elections: vote by mail ballots," accessed August 13, 2024
- ↑ California Secretary of State, "Voting Rights: Persons with a Prior Felony Conviction," accessed August 13, 2024
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "Felon Voting Rights," accessed August 13, 2024
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Categories: [Voting laws by state] [California] [Election policy tracking]
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