Does casting your ballot cast some doubts?
Election Day is fast approaching – and with it comes a bevy of questions. From tracking your ballot to navigating voter registration, we answered 11 of your midterm election questions with the help of county registrars and the California secretary of state’s office.
I am unhoused. How do I vote?
People who are experiencing homelessness are still eligible to vote in California.
When registering to vote, an unhoused person must provide a California driver’s license, state-issued ID or the last four digits of their Social Security number.
The person will also need to provide a physical location to determine what precinct they can cast a ballot for. The person can use a park or cross streets.
I received two ballots in the mail. What do I do?
If one of the ballots is not addressed to you or someone who lives at your address, write “not at this address/return to sender” on the envelope and put it back in the mail.
Registrar offices have processes meant to ensure only voters who request a replacement ballot get a second one in the mail.
Attempts to vote twice will be referred to the district attorney for investigation, the Orange County registrar warned.
I’m not sure if I’m registered to vote. How do I check?
Check your voter registration by contacting your country registrar’s office, checking at a vote center or visiting the California secretary of state’s website.
Does it cost anything to vote?
No. As Bob Page, the registrar of voters in Orange County, put it: “Voting is a right. A voter cannot be charged a fee to exercise that right.”
How do I know if my ballot has been received or processed?
You can check to see when your ballot is mailed, received and counted through the secretary of state’s “Where’s My Ballot?” tool. You can also sign up to get text messages or calls about the status of your ballot.
I am undocumented. Can I vote?
To be eligible to vote in California, a person must be a U.S. citizen, a resident of the state and at least 18 years old on Election Day (Nov. 8 this year).
To be eligible, one must also not be currently serving a state or federal prison term for a felony conviction or be found mentally incompetent by a court.
California’s secretary of state’s website provides more information on voting rights for people with a criminal history or individuals subjected to a conservatorship.
Can I vote online?
No. You can only vote by returning your ballot via U.S. Postal Service mail or in person. You cannot email a copy of your ballot to your county registrar or the secretary of state.
If I mailed in my ballot, do I still need to vote in person on Election Day?
No. You can only vote once in an election.
I just moved. How can I vote?
If your move is only temporary, you should vote using your permanent address and cast a ballot in those applicable elections, according to the Secretary of State’s Office.
However, if your move is permanent, you can register to vote online in California or by submitting a paper voter registration application.
And if you’ve already updated your residence address with the Department of Motor Vehicles or the U.S. Postal Service, your registration is automatically updated with your new address, according to the secretary of state.
If you live in a county that has adopted the Voter’s Choice Act plan — including Alameda, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Marin, San Benito and Santa Cruz in the Bay Area — you can change your registration at a vote center. (The registrar will verify you have not already cast a ballot in another jurisdiction.) VCA counties conduct elections by mailing every voter a ballot, expanding in-person early voting and opening vote centers throughout the county. A full list of participating counties is available on the secretary of state’s website.
Do I need to re-register if I didn’t vote in the last election?
If you have not changed addresses, you should not need to re-register to vote. However, if you have not voted in several consecutive elections, it’s best to ensure you’re still registered. You can do that by contacting your country registrar’s office, checking at a vote center, or visiting the California secretary of state’s website.
Am I allowed to take time off work to vote?
Yes. State law says voters are entitled to up to two hours off to vote, if they do not have sufficient time to vote outside of working hours, without loss of pay.
Source: www.mercurynews.com