By now you are probably aware that our federal election is on Tuesday, November 5th and Kamala Harris is running for President. But do you know how, where and what you need to vote? Are you sure that you’re registered? Do you know who is on the ballot besides Kamala? Do you have friends or relatives who need a quick refresher? Here is some basic information, to get you and your loved ones started.
Some of this information is specific to California, where I live, but I have also included state-wide and national information, as well.
HOW TO CAST YOUR BALLOT
First, make sure you’re registered to vote!
According to LAist, if you live in California:
“You can check to see if you are registered on the California Secretary of State's website. You can also call (800) 345-VOTE (8683) or email elections@sos.ca.gov… Even if you know you’re registered, it’s a good idea to check that details such as your name and mailing address are up-to-date. If you need to update anything, re-register.”
But no matter where you live in the U.S., you can always check your voter registration and register at Vote.org.
California’s deadline to register to vote — online — is October 21!
To be clear, this is the deadline to register online. So don’t worry — you can still register in-person after that date. According to LAist:
“If you miss that [Oct. 21] deadline, you can do same-day registration at any vote center in your county once they open, all the way up to and including Election Day. Ballot drop-off locations open on Oct. 8… If you register to vote after Oct. 21, that means you will register "conditionally" and will cast a provisional ballot.”
What is a provisional ballot?
“Provisional ballots are placed in pink envelopes, secured for processing, and counted after election officials have confirmed your voter information.”
Registered and ready to vote?
If you live outside of California, make sure to verify the rules specific to your state, to find out whether you are allowed to mail in your ballot, vote early, and more. All of this information is available at Vote.org, and on your local Secretary of State’s website.
In California…
1) You can vote by mail.
Ballots are mailed out starting Oct. 7. As soon as you get your ballot, you can vote! Just make sure to seal and sign your ballot, then put it in the mail (no postage is required). For it to count, it must be postmarked on or by Nov. 5, 2024.
2) You can vote via Drop Box.
If you don’t want to mail your ballot, another option is to put it in a drop box instead. After you seal and sign your ballot, you can deposit it in any official drop box before 8pm on Nov. 5, 2024. To find your nearest one, go to caearlyvoting.sos.ca.gov.
3) You can vote in person.
If you lose your vote-by-mail ballot, need assistance, missed the deadline to register online, or just like voting in person, this is a great option. Like LAist says, "At vote centers, you'll be able to get help in multiple languages, use accessible voting machines, register to vote, make changes to your voter registration, and more.” Early voting centers open starting Oct. 7, but this can vary by county. To find your nearest vote center and when they open, go here: www.vote.org/polling-place-locator.
For more information re: voting in California, you can text “VOTE” to GOVOTE (468-8683) or call the CA Secretary of State’s hotline at (800) 345-VOTE.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED VOTING GUIDES
If you are looking for information on how to vote, and for whom, I highly recommend the following guides.
Blue Voter Guide (a blue guide for any election in the U.S.)
Vote411 (a non-partisan guide for any election in the U.S.)
Ballotpedia (a non-partisan guide for any election in the U.S.)
Cal Matters (a blue guide for any election in CA)
LAist (a non-partisan guide for any election in Los Angeles)
MY VOTING GUIDE COMES SOON
Like in the past, I will be creating my own guide soon, which will focus primarily on Los Angeles, where I live, but will also include some key information for state-wide and federal races. As I’ve said elsewhere, “WTF Should You Listen To Me?” I do not claim to be a political expert or journalist. I’m simply a concerned mother / voter who started doing this research years ago, to fill out my own ballots. Then I started sharing my recommendations with others, who said they found my voting guides helpful.
So please stay tuned!
Updated to say: here is my voting guide “How to Vote in CA by Nov 5, 2024 & Save Our Democracy!” Hope you find it helpful.
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Thanks for sharing and great information.