Important Voter Information and Tips
Am I Registered to Vote?
Click here to check your voter registration status on the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder’s website.
Am I Signed Up to Vote By Mail?
Click here to check your vote-by-mail application status on the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder’s website.
Where Do I Vote and How Do I Get a Sample Ballot?
Click here to find your polling place and get a copy of your sample ballot from the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder’s website.
How Do I Register to Vote and When Is the Registration Deadline?
Click here to download a voter registration form from the California Secretary of State’s website. Please note that the voter registration deadline for any election is 15 days prior to Election Day. For the Tuesday, May 19, 2009, Statewide Special Election, the voter registration deadline is Monday, May 4, 2009. Please note that the deadline is a “received by” deadline.
How Do I Sign Up to Vote By Mail and When Is the Deadline for Signing Up?
Click here to download a permanent vote-by-mail application. For the Tuesday, May 19, 2009, Statewide Special Election, the deadline is Tuesday, May 12, 2009. Please note that the deadline is a “received by” deadline.
Where Can I Get More Voting Related Information?
Click here to visit the California Secretary of State’s website.
Click here to visit the Los Angeles Registrar-Recoder’s website.
Vote-By-Mail Ballot Voting FAQs
When must I return my Vote-by-Mail ballot?
In order to be counted, an elections official in your county of residence must receive your ballot no later than 8 p.m. on Election Day.
You can mail your ballot or bring it to the elections office or to any worker at a polling place within your county of residence. Ballots received after the polls close on Election Day cannot be counted regardless of postmarks.
If you return your voted ballot by mail, don’t forget to put the required postage on the envelope. The post office will not deliver it without the required postage.
If I lose the vote-by-mail ballot that was sent to me, can I get another one?
YES. However you must sign a statement under penalty of perjury that you lost, destroyed or did not receive the first vote-by-mail ballot.
The elections official maintains a record of each request, and provides a list of these requests to the polling place to ensure that each voter casts only one ballot. If you vote twice by vote-by-mail ballot, even if by mistake, neither ballot will be counted.
Can I give my voted vote-by-mail ballot to someone else to return for me?
If you are ill, or have a physical disability, you may designate a spouse, child, parent, grandparent, grandchild, brother, sister or a person residing in the same household as the vote-by-mail-voter to return your voted ballot for you. Your designated person may return it in person to the election office or to a polling place in your county, or may place it in the mail for return to the elections official. Contact your county elections official for more information.
If I request a vote-by-mail ballot, can I change my mind and still vote at my regular polling place?
YES. You must bring your non-voted vote-by-mail ballot and give it to the polling place worker before voting a regular ballot.
If you are unable to surrender your vote-by-mail ballot, you may still cast a “provisional” ballot at your polling place which will not be counted until the county elections official can determine that you have not also voted a vote-by-mail ballot.
Know Your Voting Rights
Do you need an ID 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.”
If you are waiting in line to vote when the polls close:
You can vote if you are in the polling place or in line before 8:00 pm on Election Day.
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 previous notice.
If anyone challenges you on your right to vote based upon your citizenship, residence or identity:
The ONLY person who can challenge your right to vote is an official County or City precinct worker. Intimidating voters is against the law. Please report any incident like this to official precinct workers.
If you need a non-English ballot: You can ask for a ballot in your language.
If not available, there may be a posted translation.
If you need help voting because of a disability:
If you can’t read or write, or have a physical disability, you can ask for assistance.
If your polling place is inaccessible because you have a physical disability:
You can have a precinct worker come outside the polling place and allow you to vote there.
If you need to take your children to the polling place:
You can bring your children under 18 into the voting booth with you.
If you make a mistake on your ballot:
If you make a mistake, you have the right to twice receive a replacement ballot.
“Provisional” Ballots
If there is ever a question about your right to vote, you can always vote by “Provisional Ballot.” A “Provisional Ballot” is the same as a regular ballot, but it won’t be counted until county officials are able to confirm your registration information after the election. In some cases, documentation of your residence address may be required.
You should vote a “Provisional Ballot” IF:
- Election officials can’t confirm your registration.
- You received a vote-by-mail ballot but never returned it.
- Records show that you have moved.
- It appears that you have already voted.
- You are voting at a polling place outside your home precinct.
Please Note – If you lost your home due to the foreclosure crisis: You can use your prior permanent residence, where you were registered to vote, as your address for the purpose of voting. You can go back to the polling place assigned to your old address, vote early at the registrar’s office, or get a Vote-by-Mail ballot.
