what is required to register to vote in california

To register to vote in California, you must be a U.S. citizen, a California resident, at least 18 years old by Election Day, and not currently serving a state or federal prison term for a felony conviction or found mentally incompetent to vote by a court.

What you need

You can register online or with a paper application, and California requires you to submit it by the 15th day before Election Day. If you have a California driver’s license or state ID, you’ll use that number; otherwise, you can usually use the last four digits of your Social Security number.

If you are 16 or 17

California lets you pre-register if you are 16 or 17 and otherwise meet the eligibility rules, and you will be automatically registered when you turn 18.

Helpful note

You do not need to prove citizenship with documents when registering, but you do need to attest under penalty of perjury that you are a U.S. citizen. If you move, change your name, or change party preference, you should update your registration.

Deadline

The standard registration deadline is 15 days before Election Day, though California also offers in-person registration options up to Election Day in some cases.