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Midterm Chaos is rolling out!
How to vote? A California Guide.
By Mia Belen Salinas
Election day is November 3rd, and California is experiencing so much change. You might feel overwhelmed with all your options, but the clock is ticking for change to be made.
Welcome to part one of “the Easier California Voting Guide” and here is how to register to vote to make sure YOUR voice matters!
For registration, you should use this link:
https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voter-registration
Registration should be submitted online by OCTOBER 19, otherwise you can not vote, so make sure to submit before this deadline.
Through the registration process, you will need to show some form of identification with a California License or your social security number. Here, you can OPTIONALLY choose to add your political party preference. Please allow up to 24 hours to check if your voter’s status is up to date.
Once you are registered, you are ready to vote for the first time! But there are still some steps left,
VOTING IN PERSON:
Although California does not require ID to vote, many people have not voted in a federal election before. As a result, they are required to show ID, so bring a form of ID that is acceptable such as:
To find a polling location near you, click this website and insert your address: https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/polling-place
Information is not available at the time of publication of this article, but polling locations will be shown 2-4 weeks prior to the election.
*Important*
When you are voting at your booth, most polls restrict phone usage. It is vital that you write your decisions and candidates on a piece of paper so you can easily refer to it. Policywithapunch encourages first time voters to vote in person!
MAIL IN VOTING:
First time mail in voting is a bit more complicated.
Prior to voting on your ballot, you must send a photocopy of your identification (valid identification examples shown above) to your county elections official.
How and where? This website will show you a list of the county elections offices. https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voting-resources/county-elections-offices
Their emails are linked, so find the email address of the county official in your area. For example, Policywithapunch is based in Los Angeles, so our county elections office is:
This is critical because if you do not provide identification, your ballot will not be opened or counted.
So how do I turn in my ballot?
You have 3 ways to go about this.
BALLOT DROP OFF
In Los Angeles, you can deliver your ballot at a ballot drop off box, which locations can be accessed at this link: https://locator.lavote.gov/locations/vbm?culture=en
but across California, drop off boxes are available and their locations are accessible online. Drop-off boxes can suit your busy school or work schedule, as they can be used anytime from October 5th to November 3rd. You can also drop off your ballot the day of the election — November 3rd — at a secure drop box, polling place, vote center, or county elections office by 8:00 PM.
MAIL DELIVERY
You can also deliver your ballot by mail. In order for your ballot to be processed it must be POSTMARKED. You can postmark your ballot by mailing it at least 5 days before election day. Otherwise, if you mail your ballot the day of the election, you must get a hand stamped postmark by a postal employee inside a US Post office. Mail in voting is absolutely free; you do NOT need to pay for postage.
ALTERNATE DELIVERY
If these options are not accessible, you can also have someone turn in your ballot for you as long as you are not paying them on a per ballot basis!
How do I check my voter status and status of my ballot?
You can find this information here: https://locator.lavote.gov/locations/vbm?culture=en
It is suggested that you consistently check your voting status to ensure that your voice gets heard.
In addition to this website, the state of California offers an easier way to check the status of your ballot through "Where's my ballot”. “Where’s my ballot” sends you updates via email, text, or voice message from county officials. This reduces the need of constantly logging into a website.
You can sign up for this simple program at this website: https://california.ballottrax.net/voter/
Remember, polls don’t vote, people do. Get out there and make change for your future and TAKE ACTION!
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