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Election Guide : Voting: How to Register and Vote

Information on registering to vote, issues, and candidates

Qualifications to Register to Vote

To register to vote in California, you must be:

To pre-register to vote in California, you must:

  • Be 16 or 17 years old, and
  • Meet all of the other eligibility requirements to vote.

You will automatically be registered to vote on your 18th birthday.

Already Registered to Vote?

Check your status or see if your registration has taken effect.

 

Register to Vote Now

Register online at the official State of California portal. Your online registration must be submitted electronically no later than 15 days prior to an election.

Away from Home at College

As a Californian living away from home while attending college, you may choose to register to vote using your home away from home address you use while at school or your traditional home address.

Choosing which address to use when you register to vote is a personal decision. Whatever you decide, you may not register to vote in two places during the same election cycle.

Find Your Polling Place or Vote by Mail

Look up your polling place (voting location) based on your residence address in San Luis Obispo County. The polling place lookup provides the polling place name, address, sample ballot booklet, audio enabled sample ballot, accessibility details, and map location.

Same Day Register to Vote

To do this, you must visit your county elections office at least seven days before Election Day. You will be required to sign an oath saying you are eligible to vote in California and have not voted in the same election in any other state. Then you may vote only for President and Vice President.

Know Your Rights!