Make voting part of your Stanford service journey. #StanfordVotes
It’s easy to register to vote online in California (registertovote.ca.gov), through the official U.S. government portal (vote.gov), or through StudentVote.org (powered by Rock the Vote). Most states allow online registration (and checking registration status) or by mail through the National Mail Voter Registration form. Check out lots more information at StanfordVotes.org.
Online voter registration for California residents is available through the Secretary of State. Further information about who is eligible to register, what counts as residency (and how to prove residency), when the registration deadline (and ballot distribution timing) is, and general FAQs are also available. California accepts the National Mail Voter Registration form also.
Paper registration applications are also available at the Department of Motor Vehicles offices or U.S. post office. You may also request a paper voter registration application be mailed to you by calling the California Secretary of State at (800) 345-VOTE(8683) or by emailing Elections Division staff. Instructions for filling out paper applications are available here, and an ASL video is available here.
To cast a regular ballot in the 2024 Presidential Election on November 5, Californians must be registered no later than October 21, 2024.
Need more advice or information on whether you qualify as a California resident?
Here's a video from the former Secretary of State, now U.S. Senator, Alex Padilla, who acted as a registration witness when a 105 year old voter (and wildfire survivor) changed her registration address. If she can register and vote, you can, too!
Many states offer online voter registration, and links to each applicable state are available at Vote.gov and Can I Vote. Here are direct links to register in West Coast states and U.S. territories:
Note that the U.S. Election Assistance Commission provides detailed guidance for college students on residency for voting. This guidance states: "Where you register to vote will not affect your federal financial aid, including FAFSA, Pell Grants, Perkins, or Stafford loans." Further details for each state are available at the Campus Vote Project State Student Guides.
Below are registration deadlines to cast regular ballots (not conditional) in the November 5, 2024 general election, with applicable states and territories listed after each date:
States and territories that allow same-day voter registration, generally in person and often with conditional ballots: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Hawai'i (online option), Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Utah, Vermont (online and by mail options), Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
North Dakota has no voter registration requirement. Oregon uses a Motor Voter Law with opt-out, so most Oregonians with IDs are registered automatically.