What Latinos, immigrants and first-time voters need to know about California’s November election

The Spanish version of this article is available here.

California Latinos’ influence at the voting booth often trails their share of the state’s population.

They make up the state’s largest ethnic group, but they tend to vote in lower numbers than other communities. Language barriers and a lack of political engagement sometimes suppress Latino turnout, candidates and researchers say.

This year could prove especially difficult in persuading occasional voters to cast ballots. The coronavirus pandemic is hindering outreach efforts, making occasional and first-time voters harder to find.

Their turnout matters in determining the fate of ballot initiatives and in choosing candidates for local offices.

“This election is not just about electing the next president,” said Jacqueline Martinez Garcel, CEO of the Latino Community Foundation. “There are going to be some key propositions and policies that will be on this ballot, that will impact the daily life of Latinos.”

Nationally, about 1 in 10 people eligible to cast a ballot in this year’s presidential race are immigrants. California alone contains 5.5 million immigrant eligible voters — more than New York and Florida combined, according to the Pew Research Center.

Here’s a guide to your voter registration questions as the Nov. 3 election nears.

Who can register to vote in California?

You must be a U.S. citizen, resident of California and 18 years of age or older on Election Day, Nov. 3, to vote.

People currently serving in a state or federal prison or on parole for the conviction of a felony cannot register and vote.

Where can I register to vote online?

You can find a link to register to vote through the Secretary of State’s website here. You can register to vote in Spanish through this link here.

Can green cards holders or U.S. permanent residents vote in California?

No. You must be a U.S. citizen to vote in federal and state elections.

What do I need in order to register?

If you’re registering to vote online, you’ll need a California driver’s license or identification card number, the last four digits of your Social Security number and your date of birth.

Don’t have either a driver’s license or identification card? You can still register online, but might need to fill out further documentation or provide further identification information.

How long does it take to register to vote?

Generally, the process should take under 10 minutes online.

What if I don’t have a computer at home or internet access?

Most government offices have voter registration forms that people can fill out.

That may be tricky because of the coronavirus outbreak. The Secretary of State’s office also has a hotline for Spanish speakers for people to request a form. You can reach them at: (800) 232-VOTA (8682).

“It’s confidential and it’s toll-free,” said Sam Mahood, press secretary for California’s Secretary of State. “We can help you whether that’s getting you the form you need, or giving you advice on … how to get your ballot, how to fill it out and how to return it.”

If possible, Martinez Garcel, of the Latino Community Foundation, encourages families who can safely gather to invite other family members to use their computers or phones to help your “tias, tios, abuelos and abuelas” register to vote.

Will there be Spanish-language mail-in ballots?

Yes, but only if you request one. If you want your mail-in ballot and voter information guide in Spanish, you can request one when registering to vote. You can request materials in other languages, too, including Chinese, Tagalog and Hindi.

What about Spanish-speaking poll workers?

County elections officials usually try to gather bilingual poll workers, especially in areas where large segments of the population speak another language, according to Mahood. Whether your polling location will have bilingual poll workers depends on who county election officials can recruit.

Speaking of poll workers, Mahood said there’s high demand for Spanish-speaking poll workers. For more information, visit: https://pollworker.sos.ca.gov/.

“With the pandemic, a lot of our older poll workers aren’t going to be able to serve this year,” he said. “We particularly need new poll workers, younger poll workers, and in a lot of counties if you’re bilingual, you’ll get paid more to be a poll worker than if you only speak English.”

How do I verify voter information I see online?

If you see anything suspicious online, Mahood recommends contacting your local county elections office or Secretary of State’s office to verify or report the information. He adds it’s important to go to trusted sources like your local county elections office or Secretary of State’s Office for voter-related information.

“There’s a lot of misinformation out there online,” he said. “The last thing you want is for people to be confused or be given the wrong information about participating.”

What are the important deadlines?

County elections officials plan to mail ballots to California’s registered voters on October 5, so voters can expect their ballot in the mail a few days after that date. Mahood recommends registering or re-registering to vote now so that officials have your most up-to-date information.

The last day to register to vote online is October 19. After that day you’ll have to go to an in-person voting location or county elections office to register or update your registration.

Mail-in ballots should be postmarked on or before Election Day, November 3.

Do I need to stamp my mail-in ballot?

No. The mail-in ballot comes with pre-paid postage. No stamps are required to return the ballot.

This story was originally published August 18, 2020 at 6:00 AM.