Voter Registration Qualifications
To register to vote in California, a student must be:
- A United States citizen and a resident of California
- 18 years old or older on Election Day
- Not currently in state or federal prison or on parole for conviction of a felony (more information: )
- Not currently found mentally incompetent to vote by a court (more information: )
A student who is under the age of 18 can pre-register to vote in California. Students pre-registering will automatically be registered to vote on their 18th birthday. The student must:
- Be 16 or 17 years old
- Meet all other eligibility requirements to vote
Who Should Register or Re-register to Vote?
A student who:
- Has never registered
- Has moved to a new address
- Has changed his/her name
- Has changed his/her political party preference
- Is not sure if he/she is registered to vote
- Has not voted in the last several elections
What Happens After You Register?
The student will receive from SOS Election Division:
- Postcard confirming status
- Voting materials
- Polling place location
- Mailed ballot (for vote-by-mail voters)
Online Registration
A student can register or pre-register to vote online by clicking on this link:
The student will be asked to answer a series of questions and enter their personal information, including the following listed below. Students’ information will be provided to the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to retrieve a copy of their DMV signature.
- CA driver's license or ID number
- Social Security number
- Date of birth