Ballot voting in California

Preparation is the key to being an informed voter. There is information available before each election to help you.

It is important that you read about the candidates and measures on the ballot before you go to vote. California ballots often have many candidates and many measures. It can take a long time to read everything if you wait until you are at the polling place. If you do not understand something, it is difficult to get more information at the polling place.

We recommend you mark your choices on your sample ballot before going to your polling place. The below tools will help you to do this.

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Your Sample Ballot

Your County Elections Official mails you a sample ballot 2-5 weeks before each election. It contains:

• a list of all the candidates and measures that will appear on the official ballot,
• instructions on how to use the voting device at the polls,
• statements from the local candidates,
• information about local measures,
• the date and time of the election,
• the location of your polling place and,
• a form to request a vote-by-mail ballot.

The sample ballot is identical to the ballot you will be given at the polling place. Do not use the sample ballot mailed to another person. The names of the candidates are in a different order on different ballots. This is a state law. It is supposed to make elections fairer so that no candidate is first (or last) on every ballot. Also do not discuss a candidate with your friends by the candidate's number on your sample ballot. The candidate's number will be different on different ballots.

The sample ballot will be sent to the address you submitted on your voter registration form. If you moved after you registered, the pamphlet will not be forwarded to you. If you registered 29 to 15 days prior to the election you will be mailed a sample ballot if there is time to process your registration. If not, then you will be mailed a post card giving the location of your polling place. If you do not receive a sample ballot by two weeks before the election you may call your County Elections Official and request one. Some county web sites allow voters to access their sample ballots by entering their address.