To be eligible to vote, you must be:

• A United States citizen
• A resident of California
• At least 18 years of age (or will be by the date of the next election)
• Not currently serving a state or federal prison term for conviction of a felony
• Not have been judged by a court to be mentally incompetent to register and vote

You may pre-register to vote if you are at least 16 years old. Your registration will become active once you turn 18.

You will need to re-register to vote when:

• You move
• You change your name
• You wish to change political parties or to register with no party preference
• You were removed from the registration rolls while in state or federal prison for the conviction of a felony

If you have recently moved:

If you are already registered to vote in California and have moved or changed your name, you may update your voter registration by:

• re-registering online or by submitting a paper voter registration application.
• sending a signed letter to your current county elections official, even if it is in a different county, informing them of your move and providing them with your date of birth and current address.

If you have recently updated your address at the DMV or USPS, your voter registration will be automatically updated.

If you missed the registration deadline for an upcoming election, don't worry. In most cases, you can still register to vote and cast a provisional ballot on Election Day. This process is called Same Day Voter Registration. 

Incarcerated Voters & Returning Citizens: 

In California, those who have been convicted of a felony and were sentenced to a prison term for that conviction will be eligible to register to vote immediately after their release, even if they are on probation or parole. Learn more.

Voters without traditional residence: 

In California, every eligible voter, including individuals experiencing homelessness, has the right to vote. They are able to register to vote as long as they have a location where they can receive mail and be assigned to a specific voting area. They have the option to register using an address where they spend most of their time, such as a shelter. In case they don't have a fixed address, they must provide a clear description of their living location when registering so that the county elections official can determine their voting precinct. This description can include nearby cross streets or a park. This process ensures they receive the appropriate election materials based on their living situation.