Who can register to vote in California?
You may register to vote if you meet the following criteria:
- You are a United States citizen
- You are a resident of California
- You are at least 18 years of age (or will be by the date of the next election)
- You are not in prison or on parole for conviction of a felony
- You have not been judged by a court to be mentally incompetent to register and vote.
Rights of people who are incarcerated
For more information on the rights of people who are incarcerated, please see our Voting Guide for Inmates.
How do I register to vote?
Download and Mail a Voter Registration Form (ENGLISH | ESPANOL)
The National Mail Voter Registration Form can be used to register to vote, report a change of name, report a change of address or register with a political party. For more information about registering to vote, contact our office. The national form also contains voter registration rules and regulations for each state and territory.
Please download and complete the form by clicking the link above. Please remember to sign it and MAIL it DIRECTLY to our office SAN BENITO COUNTY REGISTRAR OF VOTERS, 440 Fifth Street – Room 206, Hollister, CA 95023
What is the deadline to register to vote?
The deadline to register to vote is 15 days prior to each local and statewide Election Day. To be eligible to vote in the January 4, 2011, Senate District 1 Special General Election, you must register to vote by December 20, 2010. To be eligible to vote in the February 7, 2012, Presidential Primary Election, you must register to vote by January 23, 2012.
I have just moved, do I have to re-register?
Your voter registration should always reflect your current residence. However, if you have moved from your home into a temporary residence that you do not intend to use as your permanent residence, you can continue to use your prior permanent residence where you were previously registered to vote as your address for the purpose of voting.
I did not vote in the last election, do I have to re-register to vote?
In general, you are registered to vote for as long as you remain at the same address. However, if you have not voted in the last several elections, you may be sent a request to confirm that you have not moved.