If you haven’t thought about voting, this is your reminder. Register. Now. (The registration deadline is 10/19 and it only takes a minute to register online). This might be the most important election of our lifetime… maybe in the history of this country. We’re deciding the fate of the earth (global warming), the rights of women, BIPOC, and LGBTQ+, and many other issues that will directly affect you and your loved ones.
In the last election, over 40% of eligible voters didn’t vote. That means that almost half of the eligible US population didn’t decide our current political status. If you’ve ever felt like sitting out was an option, this year is not it. Register. Vote. It’ll take a tiny fraction of your life, and it will impact the health and well-being of yourself and millions of others for the next 4 years (and many years of ramifications to follow).
We’re here to offer you a simple guide on voting in California: how to register, where to vote, the important candidates and propositions, and additional resources.
For a super comprehensive guide, check out calmatters.org/election-2020-guide.
Register to vote
Not registered? Not sure? Go to registertovote.ca.gov to check your status, and register if you haven’t. It literally takes a minute.
Deadlines
Election day: November 3rd
Registration deadlines:
Online: October 19th
By mail: Postmarked by October 19th
In person: November 3rd
Absentee ballot deadlines
Request by: October 27th
Return by mail: Postmarked by November 3rd
Return in person: November 3rd by 8:00 p.m.
Early voting
October 5th – November 2nd
If you miss registration
You can also register and vote on Election Day – go to your county election office, polling place, or vote center to register and vote conditionally.
How to vote
Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2020. All of California’s registered voters will be mailed a ballot no later than 29 days prior to Election Day. Early voting and in-person voting locations will also be available to voters.
- You can find all of the ways to vote in San Francisco at sfelections.sfgov.org/ways-vote.
- You can find all of the ways to vote in Los Angeles at lavote.net/home/voting-elections/voting-options.
By mail
All registered voters will be sent a vote-by-mail ballot by October 5, 2020 – you don’t need to apply. Once you receive your ballot, fill it out. After you have voted, insert your ballot in the envelope provided, making sure you complete all required information on the envelope. You may return your voted ballot by mail, in person, or to a drop box.
- If you are returning your ballot by mail, it must be postmarked on or before Election Day and received by your county elections office no later than 17 days after Election Day.
- If you are returning your ballot in person or dropping it in a drop box, it must be delivered no later than the close of polls at 8:00 p.m. on November 3rd. (Someone else can drop it off for you, just don’t pay them.)
- Important: You must fill out the authorization section found on the outside of your ballot envelope, or it won’t be counted.
In person
San Francisco
Go to sfelections.org/tools/map_poll_time to find available polling and ballot drop-off locations.
Los Angeles
Go to locator.lavote.net/locations/vc to find available polling and ballot drop-off locations.
Important local candidates and propositions
California propositions
Here are the California propositions to consider. Click on each one to view a 60-second video explanation, plus support and opposition.
Proposition 14: Stem cell research funding
Proposition 15: Property tax “split roll” for commercial real estate
Proposition 16: Repealing the ban on affirmative action
Proposition 17: Voting rights for felons on parole
Proposition 18: Allow some 17-year-olds to vote in primaries
Proposition 19: Property tax transfers and inheritances
Proposition 20: Recategorize criminal sentencing charges
Proposition 22: Job classification for app-based drivers
Proposition 23: Physicians onsite at dialysis clinics
Proposition 24: Add new consumer privacy rules
Proposition 25: Replace cash bail with risk assessment
Local candidates
Candidate information for:
Regardless of how you’re voting, just educate yourself and VOTE. This is a democracy after all, but only if we all participate.