Student Life

California Voter FAQ

Note: Although the online voter registration deadline has passed, you can still register to vote in person at any County Registrar of Voter's office or vote center.

• With COVID-19 still around will there be an election this year?

  Yes! Even though we have all had to make huge adjustments in our lives because of COVID-19, the election in November is still happening. The state of California has issued an executive order that the state is now a vote-by-mail state. This means that everyone who registers to vote will automatically receive their ballot by mail. Everyone who is already registered to vote will also automatically receive their ballot in the mail. We highly encourage you to check your voter registration status at sos.ca.gov/elections/cavoter and pay specific attention to the address you have listed. If you didn’t provide a specific mailing address, then your ballot will be sent to whatever address you registered with. If you registered with an address near UCR, and you have been temporarily displaced because of COVID-19, then your ballot will still go to that address but you won't be able to access it. 

  If you find that you need to make a change to your address to ensure you receive your ballot, you will need to re-register—it only takes a minute or two at registertovote.ca.gov.

• Am I eligible to register to vote?

  You can register to vote in California if you are:

  • A U.S. citizen and a resident of California.
  • 18 years of age or older on Election Day.
  • Not currently imprisoned or on parole for a felony conviction.
  • Not found by a court to be mentally incompetent to vote.

  Note: Online pre-registration is now available for eligible 16- and 17-year olds. California youth who pre-register to vote will have their registration become active once they turn 18-years-old.

• Where can I register to vote?

  Registering to vote is super easy! Head over to registertovote.ca.gov. The deadline to register to vote online is Oct. 24, 2022.​​​​​​​

• Where can I check to see if I am already registered?

  Use online tools provided by the California Secretary of State at sos.ca.gov/elections/cavoter to learn if you are registered to vote in California.

• What is the difference between permanent address and mailing address?

  When you register to vote, you have the option of providing your home address and a mailing address. 

  • Home Address: This is the location you want your ballot to represent. This is likely your family's home. Whatever address you pick as your home address, your ballot will include measures specific to that area. Home address is also sometimes called a residence or permanent address.
  • Mailing Address: This is where you want your vote-by-mail ballot to go. You will also receive other information and documents about elections at this address. Home address and mailing address do not need to be the same. We HIGHLY encourage you to check your voter registration so you know what address you are registered with and you can ensure that you can still access that location to receive your ballot. 

  Whatever address you list you need to make sure that you include a complete address. If it is an apartment complex, for example, you need to include your apartment/room number. 

• I had to move because of COVID-19, do I need to re-register?

  It depends. Your ballot is going to automatically go to whatever address you used to register. If you included a mailing address, it will go there. If you have been temporarily displaced because of COVID-19, you need to check your voter registration to see what address you registered with at voterstatus.sos.ca.gov. Your ballot will go to that address and if you don’t live there anymore because of COVID-19 you will need to re-register to vote so that you can change your address to where you are currently located covr.sos.ca.gov

• Will there be polling places on the UCR Campus?

  Yes! UCR will be hosting a Vote Center that will be open from Saturday, Nov. 5 to Tuesday, Nov. 8 at the Alumni & Visitors Center (on Canyon Crest, next to Substation, directly across from the softball field).

• Do I need to re-register if I change my surname or political party?

  Yes. If you legally change your name or wish to change your registered political party, you need to re-register to vote at registertovote.ca.gov.

• I still have questions. Who can I contact?

  For questions regarding voter engagement, contact the office of Student Life at ucrlife@ucr.edu 

• Where can I drop off my ballot if I want to submit it myself?

  If you prefer to submit your vote-by-mail ballot in person, you can go to any vote center or drop off location — it's easy! Remember, UCR will be hosting a Vote Center from Saturday, Nov.r 5 to Tuesday, Nov. 8 at the Alumni & Visitors Center. If you are near campus during that time, you can drop off your ballot there.

• How can I find out where my ballot is?

  If you want to ensure that your ballot arrives safely and is counted, or you are curious about where it is — you can track your ballot! Go here for more info: sos.ca.gov/elections

• Do I have that option to vote in person?

  If you prefer to vote in person, you still have that option. You can go to any vote center in your county and vote. You need to take your vote-by-mail ballot with you and turn it in. By surrendering your ballot, you can receive a brand new one and vote at the vote center. If you lost your ballot, never received it, or don’t have it on you at that moment, you can still vote at that voting center with a provisional ballot. You can find the closest vote center to you here: sos.ca.gov/elections

• I missed the Oct. 24 online voter registration deadline. What can I do?

  If you miss the Oct. 24 deadline to online register to vote, you can still register in person. You can head to any vote center or to your County Registrar of Voters office to do so. You can even register to vote on the day of the election! There is no excuse! Learn more.