Voting Information

League of Women Voters^®
of Palo Alto

How to register to vote & election information

Didn't get your ballot? Get information here to vote.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO VOTE. HOW TO REGISTER TO VOTE. WHO SHOULD REGISTER OR RE-REGISTER. WHERE AND WHEN TO VOTE. VOTE BY MAIL INFORMATION. PARTY AFFILIATION.

Before each election, every registered voter receives a sample ballot, the location of his/her polling place, and a vote by mail ballot request form.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO VOTE

You are eligible to vote in California if on the day of the election you are:

At least 18 years of age by election day. Seventeen-year-olds who meet eligibility requirements can register to vote if they will turn 18 on or before the next election.
A citizen of the United States & a California resident.
You must be registered to vote on or before 15 days prior to the election.
Not declared mentally incompetent by a court
Not in prison or parole for a felony conviction

When you register to vote, you must provide proof of identity; a California drivers license, or a California identification card number, or the last four digits of your SS number. If you do not include this information, you will be required to provide identification when you vote the first time.

HOW TO REGISTER TO VOTE

You must be registered on or before 15 days before an election. Forms are available at: Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters 1555 Berger Dr., #A, 95112 P.O. Box 1147, San Jose, CA 95108 (408) 299-VOTE (8683), or Toll free (866) 430-VOTE (8683) Monday-Friday 8 A.M.-5 P.M. or download a form at http://www.sccvote.org Registration Forms are available at: Department of Motor Vehicles * Post Offices * Libraries * City Clerks' Offices * League of Women Voters. To reach the ROV bilingual staff, call: Spanish: (408) 282-3095 Vietnamese: (408) 282-3097 Chinese: (408) 282-3086 Tagalog: (408) 282-3089 If you register to vote between 15-29 days before the election you may pick up your sample ballot at the Registrar of Voters.

WHO SHOULD REGISTER OR RE-REGISTER

You should register or re-register if you:

Have never registered in California
Have moved since you last registered
Have changed your name since registering
Wish to change your party affiliation
Are an ex-felon who has completed parole

WHERE AND WHEN TO VOTE

Your precinct number and the address of your polling place appear on the back of your sample ballot. Ordinarily, polls are open from 7 A.M. to 8 P.M. on election day.

VOTE BY MAIL INFORMATION

You may apply for a vote by mail ballot at any time up to 7 days before an election.

Anyone may register to vote as a permanent vote by mail voter and automatically receive a ballot by mail. To obtain a permanent vote by mail application, print form from the Registrar of Voters web site or call the Registrar's office to request one to be mailed to you. Registrar of Voters, Vote by Mail Division
P.O. Box 1740
San Jose, CA 95109
Fax: (408) 293-6002, Phone (408) 299-8640
website:http://www.sccvote.org/portal/site/rov/agencychp?path=%2Fv7%2FRegistrar%20of%20Voters%20%28DEP%29%2FVote%20by%20Mail
Persons needing assistance to complete a ballot at the polling place may request assistance from the precinct officers.
A completed, signed vote by mail ballot must be received by the County Registrar by 8:00 P.M. on election day. It may be taken to any polling place within the county by the voter, family member, or caregiver with the voter's signed authorization.
A first-time voter who registered by mail and votes absentee must include a copy of either a valid photo I.D. or other document that shows the name and address of the voter, such as a utility bill.
You may vote on weekends two weeks prior to the election at the office of the Registrar of Voters from 8:00 A.M.-5:00 P.M. or other location. Call (408) 299-VOTE for other early voting locations.

PARTY AFFILIATION

You can register with a political party, or you can "decline to state" a party affiliation. Under California's modified closed primary law, registered voters of a particular party receive only the ballot of that party. However, (unaffiliated) "declined to state" voters may choose a party ballot, but only if the party has authorized unaffiliated voters to participate in its primary.

Comments, suggestions, questions? Contact our webmaster. Last revised: August 28, 2010 11:23 PDT.