If I’m not eligible to vote in the California primary election, can I vote in November?
As California’s primary election fades after Tuesday evening, focus will soon shift to its general election and people are wondering if a voter’s participation in this round of voting is a prerequisite to take part in November’s Election Day.
A Reddit user Tuesday morning asked the r/Sacramento forum whether or not they could vote in the general after gaining citizenship later in the year.
The short answer: You don’t have to vote in a primary to vote in a general election.
According to the California Secretary of State’s website, all registered voters can vote in a primary or general election.
While the November date for the general election hasn’t been posted to California Secretary of State’s website yet, the deadline to register to vote for any election is 15 days before Election Day. The general election is Nov. 8, making the deadline Oct. 24.
To register in the state of California, you must be the following, according to California Secretary of State’s website:
- A U.S. citizen
- Resident of California
- 18 or older on Election Day
- Not currently serving time in a state or federal prison on a felony charge
To qualify to preregister to vote, you must meet all of the following terms, according to California Secretary of State’s website:
- Be 16 or 17
- Meet all of the other requirements to vote.
If you become a new citizen after the registration deadline “you may still be able to register to vote,” according to the secretary of state. You have to go to your county elections office anytime before polls close on Election Day, bring proof of citizenship and sign an eligibility form.
What do I need to register to vote?
The California voter registration application will ask for your driver’s license or identification card number and the last four digits of your social security number.
If you do not have any of the listed materials, leave that space blank on the application and a voter identification number will be assigned to identify you as a voter, according to the website.
To register online you’ll need:
- Your driver’s license
- Your California identification card number
- The last four digits of your social security number
- Date of birth
You must be at least 18 years old, a U.S. citizen and a resident of California to vote in its elections. Those 16 to 17 years old can pre-register.
You do not have to have a party affiliation.
To check your registration status, visit voterstatus.sos.ca.gov.
This story was originally published June 7, 2022 at 12:45 PM.