Register to Vote

Where To Register To Vote
Voter registration forms are available at the Registrar of Voters Office located in the Alameda County Courthouse at 1225 Fallon Street, Room G-1, Oakland, California 94612. Forms are also available at all offices of the Department of Motor Vehicles, all city clerks offices, public libraries and post offices. Persons may also call the Registrar of Voters at 510-663-8683 or the Secretary of State at 1-800-345-VOTE and a registration form will be mailed to you.

Online Voter Registration
You can complete a voter registration form online. This form will be printed and mailed to you for verification. When you verify that the information is correct the form must be signed and mailed to your county election official for the registration to be processed. To complete the online form go to www.ss.ca.gov/elections/votereg1.html.

Qualifications To Register And Vote In California
A person entitled to register to vote must be:

• A U.S. citizen
• A resident of California
• Not in prison or on parole for the conviction of a felony
• At least 18 years of age on the date of the next election.
(A person may register to vote at age 17 if he or she will be 18 on or before the next election.)
• California law denies the right to vote to persons who have been determined mentally incompetent.

The Voter Registration Deadline
The voter registration deadline is always 15 days before an election. However, please be advised that voters who register after the 29th day before an election will not receive a sample ballot or other election information by mail.

Absentee Ballots
Any registered voter may vote by absentee ballot. Absentee Ballot requests must be received 1 week before election day by 5:00pm. Voters may request an absentee ballot by any of the following 3 methods: Completing the request form from the back of their sample ballot and mailing it to the Registrar of Voters.

Mail a letter of application to:
Registrar of Voters
PO Box 24224
Oakland CA 94623

Your letter must state your name, residence address in Alameda County, the address to which the ballot is to be mailed (if different than your residence) and your signature. You may also fax your request to 510-272-6982.

Use the convenient online application** (PDF - 393kb). Complete the online application, print it, sign it, and mail or fax it to the address above.

THE REGISTRAR OF VOTERS IS PRECLUDED BY LAW FROM SENDING AN ABSENTEE BALLOT BASED ON A TELEPHONE REQUEST. YOU MUST REQUEST AN ABSENTEE BALLOT IN WRITING. WRITTEN REQUESTS, BY MAIL, MUST BE RECEIVED BY THE REGISTRAR NO LATER THAN SEVEN DAYS BEFORE AN ELECTION.

Voters may also cast absentee ballots in person in the office of the Registrar of Voters during the absentee voting period. The absentee voting period begins twenty-nine days before an election and extends until the close of polls on election day. Regular office hours are Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM. The office is open until 8:00 PM on election days.

Permanent Absentee Voting
Any California voter may request to become a permanent absentee voter. Permanent absentee voters are mailed an absentee ballot for each election in which he or she is eligible to vote. Permanent absentee voters remain on the permanent absentee list unless they fail to return a voted ballot in a Primary or General Election.

To become a permanent absentee voter, complete the absentee application on the back of your sample ballot. Be sure to check the box on the application indicating you wish to become a permanent absentee voter. You can also download the Permanent Absentee Voter Application** (PDF - 686kb). Mail or fax the completed application to the Registrar of Voters.

For more information please call the Registrar of Voters Absentee Voting Section at 510-663-8683.
**Requires free Adobe Acrobat Reader.

Absentee Voting - FAQ's

INFORMATION FOR ABSENTEE VOTERS VOTE BY MAIL IN EVERY ELECTION - PERMANENTLY
Any voter may now apply for permanent absent voter status and receive an absentee ballot in the mail for every election.

What does it mean to become a permanent absentee voter?
Permanent absentee voters automatically receive their ballots by mail within the 29 days preceding any election in which they are eligible to vote.

How do I apply for permanent absent voter status?
Fill out the application on the back cover of this sample ballot and check the box that asks if you want to become a permanent absent voter. Write your initials in the space next to the box.

Must I reapply for an absentee ballot once I am a permanent absentee voter?
No. However, if you do not return your ballot for a Primary or General Election, you will lose your permanent absent voter status and must then reapply.

Can I change my mind and vote at the polls after I receive my ballot?
Yes. Even if you receive an absentee ballot and later decide to vote at the polls, just turn in your absentee ballot envelope with the unvoted ballot inside and vote a regular ballot at the polls. If you lose your absentee ballot and want to vote at the polls, you may vote provisionally by putting your ballot inside a provisional ballot envelope.

When must I return my voted ballot?
You must return your ballot to the Registrar of Voters or to any polling place in Alameda County by 8:00 p.m. on Election Day. However, if you are ill or disabled, you may authorize your spouse, child, parent, grandparent, grandchild, brother, sister or a person residing in your household to return your ballot. The person returning your ballot must print his or her name and sign in the space provided on the absentee return envelope.

If you have questions about absentee voting, please call the Alameda County Registrar of Voters at (510) 663-VOTE (8683).

Language Assistance
Pursuant to the Federal Voting Rights Act, all Alameda County registration and sample ballot information is available in Spanish and Chinese as well as English.

To speak to a voter outreach worker please call 510-272-6948.
For assistance in Cantonese please call 510-208-9665.
For assistance in Spanish please call 510-272-6975.

Polling Place Lookup
For information regarding Polling Place locations for the March 2, 2004 Direct Primary Election. Please call 510-663-VOTE (8683).

For information about polling places or election information: http://www.smartvoter.org/ca/state/

Voters with Disabilities
Instructions for Audio Ballot
Equipment Information for Voters with Special Needs
Information for Elderly Voters and Voters with Disabilities

Additional Information For additional information please visit the Alameda County Registrar of Voters' site at www.co.alameda.ca.us/rov/index.htm.