Eligible citizens, eighteen years or older, must register to vote at least fifteen days before Election Day.  Registering can be done online at registertovote.ca.gov or by filling out a paper application.  Paper applications are available at Department of Motor Vehicles offices, post offices, public libraries, government offices, or the county elections office.  

For those who miss the registration deadline, California has an alternative voting process, called conditional voter registration.  Eligible citizens can go to their county elections office or a designated location to register and vote conditionally.  These ballots are processed once the voter registration process has been verified.  Voters can vote conditionally for two weeks prior to Election Day. 

County election officials send out a sample ballot to all registered voters.  The sample ballot includes information about the political candidates and measures that will be on the official ballot.  Instructions on how to use voting devices at the polls, the time and date of the election, polling place location, and a form to request a vote-by-mail ballot are also a part of the sample ballot.  

By being an informed voter, you can make the decisions you feel are best for your city, state, and nation.  Information about candidates and ballot measures can be found in the Secretary of State’s Voter Information Guide, political ads, editorials, candidate forums, and debates.  Candidate and non-partisan political websites, such as Voter’s Edge California, Vote 411, California League of Women Voters, and Ballotpedia can help you make an informed decision.

List of Helpful Resources on How to Vote:

• San Joaquin County Registrar of Voters: https://www.sjgov.org/department/rov/
• State of California Elections Homepage: https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/
• Ballotpedia for California Elections, 2020: https://ballotpedia.org/California_elections,_2020
• Vote.org Resources: https://www.vote.org/