1. Who may register to vote?
2. How do I register to vote?
3. When is it necessary to re-register?
4. Do I have to register with a political party?
5. Where will I vote?
6. May I work at a polling place?
7. How do I vote at the polls?
8. How do I vote if I can't go to the polls?
   • You may apply for a vote by mail ballot
   • Emergency voting
   • Permanent mail ballot voting
   • Saturday Voting
9. Voting Services for voters with special needs
   • TDD services for the hearing impaired
   • State ballot pamphlet cassette tape
   • Voting at the polls
     • Accessibility
     • Inside the polls
     • Voter Assistance
     • Curbside voting
10. Telephone numbers

1. A resident of California;
2. A person not in prison or on parole for the conviction of a felony, and
3. A person at least 18 years of age by the date of the next election.

Voters are encouraged to register at least 29 days before an election to ensure that they receive their voting materials.

Registration forms are available at most post offices, libraries, city and county offices, Department of Motor Vehicles, etc., or

An on-line voter registration request form is available at the Secretary of State's web-site (www.sos.ca.gov).

or call:

Registrar of Voters Office (909) 387-8300
Toll Free (800) 881-VOTE (8683)

Completed registration cards can be returned by mail to the Registrar of Voters, postage is pre-paid. Voter registration cards are processed upon receipt by the Registrar of Voters Office, and in approximately three to four weeks, voters receive a Voter Notification Card in the mail as proof of registration. A voter should review the information on the card for accuracy and notify the Registrar of Voters of any incorrect information.

NOTE: If you have just moved to California, there is no waiting period required to register. However, you must be registered 15 days prior to the date of the next election to be eligible to vote.

1. If you move.
2. If you change your name (due to marriage or court order)
3. If you change your political party affiliation.

If you are registered in the County of San Bernardino, and have moved without updating your voter registration record, please call the Registrars Office immediately so that we may assist you in the necessary procedure for updating your record and provide you with instructions on where you will vote.

The county has many unique areas where mail is not delivered to the residence address and it is required that the individual have a post office box or separate mailing address. If you are in such an area and change your residence address, you must re-register at the new residence address - even if your mailing address remains the same and you are still receiving election materials in the mail. If you do not vote in the polling place assigned to your current residence, you may be casting an illegal ballot.

If you are registered at least 29 days before an election, you will receive a sample ballot pamphlet from the Registrar of Voters Office. This pamphlet provides information on candidates, state, and local measures and includes the polling place location and accessibility information on the back cover. Each voter should read the sample ballot carefully, poll locations may change from one election to another. If you reside in an area that does not have a polling location, your sample ballot and official ballot will be mailed to you automatically and you will be voting in the privacy of your home. If you do not receive your sample ballot two weeks before the election, call the Registrar of Voters Office to be sure you are correctly registered and to obtain the location of your polling place.

If you register between 25 - 15 days before an election, instead of a sample ballot pamphlet you may receive a special voter notification card with the location of your polling place.

Approximately three weeks before an election, polling places may be looked-up on the Internet. Voting may be done at the Registrar of Voters starting 29 days prior to the election day, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Saturday voting may be available for countywide elections.

When there is a statewide election and there are state measures on the ballot, a "California Ballot Pamphlet," which contains additional information on statewide propositions, will be mailed to each household of registered voters. This pamphlet is mailed by the Secretary of State's Office in Sacramento.

The voter should learn all they can about the candidate and measures before they vote. In addition to reading the material found in the sample ballot and state voter pamphlet, additional information can be obtained by contacting political party headquarters, attending local voter forums and reading voter information published in the newspaper.

1. First, you will announce your name and address (party affiliation if primary election) to the poll worker.
2. When your name and address are located, they will ask you to sign your name on the roster. If your name is not on the list, you may be at the wrong polling place. Check the polls address on your sample ballot. If the polls officer is unable to solve the problem, you can call the Registrar of Voters office.
   
   You may still vote, however you will be given a provisional ballot. Provisional ballots are used when the voter's registration cannot be immediately verified. When the ballot is returned to the Registrar of Voters office, the voter's information is researched and upon verification of the registration, the ballot is counted.
3. If your name is on the roster, the poll officer will issue you your correct ballot.
4. Upon your arrival at your polling place, a greeter clerk will offer you a privacy sleeve. Instructions for voting are located on the outside cover. Go to a voting booth, vote your ballot, fold and remove the stuff at the top of the ballot, return to the roster table and place your ballot in the red ballot box.

Remember, you do not have to vote on every candidate or issue to have your ballot counted.

NOTE: If you make a mistake on your ballot, return to the roster table and the election officer will write “spoiled” on it and put it in a special spoiled bag. You will be given another ballot to vote on. Please take extra time as you may only be issued a maximum of three ballots.

Polls are open on election day from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

1. You may apply to vote by mail:

   Anyone may choose to vote by mail. An application for a vote by mail ballot is on the back of each sample ballot pamphlet. A voter may either complete this application and mail it, or write to the Registrar of Voters Office to request an absentee ballot. Each application must contain the voter's printed name, residence address, the name and date of the election for which a ballot is requested, the address where the ballot is to be mailed, and the voter's signature.

   Voters may apply for a vote by mail ballot as early as 60 days prior to the election. Ballots are mailed to applicants beginning 29 days before each election. Applications must be received no later than 7 days before election day.

   Instructions for returning voted vote by mail ballots appear on the ballot's return envelope.

2. Emergency voting:

   If, during the final seven days before an election, a voter becomes ill or disabled or, for any reason, finds that they will be away from the polls on election day, the voter may request in a written statement, signed under penalty of perjury, that a ballot be delivered to him or her. This ballot shall be delivered by the elections official to any authorized representative of the voter who presents this written statement to the elections official. The voter shall mark the ballot, place it in the ID/Return envelope, fill out and sign the envelope and return the ballot, personally or through the authorized representative, to either the elections official or any polling place within the jurisdiction. If the ballot is returned by the authorized agent, that portion of the envelope must also be completed. The voter may also come into the Registrar of Voters Office and vote in person. Exception: When the City of San Bernardino has a stand alone election (one that is not consolidated with any other districts or entities) the City's municipal code requires that only the voter may apply for and return the voted ballot.

3. Permanent Mail Ballot voting:

   To apply for Permanent Vote by Mail Voter status, a voter may complete the application on the back of the Sample Ballot pamphlet or may contact the Registrar of Voters Office for an application. Ballot is then automatically mailed for each subsequent election held within their voting precinct.

   Permanent vote by mail voter status is canceled if the voter requests to be canceled or if the voter fails to vote in either a statewide direct primary or general election. If permanent vote by mail voter status is canceled for either reason, the voter’s registration is not affected. The voter will still receive their voting information and may request an absentee ballot or vote at their polling place.

4. Saturday Voting:

   Is available one or two weekends prior to county-wide elections. Call (909) 387-8300 to confirm.

Cassette tapes are available of the State Ballot Pamphlet to allow blind and visually-impaired voters access to the titles and summaries, impartial analyses and rebuttals. These audio cassettes are available from most libraries and the Registrar of Voters Office at no cost to the voter.

1. Accessibility:
   Some polling places may be modified to make them accessible for the day, by fitting doorways with wedges, propping doors open and posting parking signs for voters with a disability.
   
   
2. Inside the polls
   Voting booths are provided which allow voting in a seated position and/or for wheelchairs. A magnifying glass is available to enlarge the ballot print.
   
   
3. Assistance:
   Under California law, any voter who needs help casting a ballot is entitled to assistance when voting. If a voter is unable to mark his/her ballot personally, they may be assisted by up to two people of their choice in casting the ballot, or any poll worker may provide assistance. The assistant(s) may not be a voter's employer or employer's agent, or a voter's labor union leader or agent.
   
   
4. Curbside voting:
   Any voter who arrives at the polls and is unable to enter the voting room due to architectural barriers or physical limitations may request to vote curbside (outside of the poll location). When notified that an individual has requested curbside voting, a poll worker will bring the voting materials to the voter, assist the voter if necessary, and place the voter's ballot into the ballot box.