California Voter ID & Registration Requirements

Who Can Register to Vote in California?

To register, you must be:

• A United States citizen and a California resident
• 18 years or older on Election Day (or 16 or 17 years old to pre-register)
• Not currently serving a state or federal prison term for a felony
• Not currently found mentally incompetent to vote by a court

Do I Need to Show ID to Vote in California?

In most cases, NO. California does not generally require voters to show identification at the polls.

When MIGHT You Be Asked for ID?

You may need to show ID only if ALL the following apply:

• You’re voting for the first time in a federal election
• You registered by mail or online, AND
• You did not provide your CA ID or SSN when registering

You’ll be notified in advance if this applies to you.

Poll workers may only request an ID if the voter list clearly indicates it’s required.

When MIGHT You Be Asked for ID?

You may need to show ID only if ALL the following apply:

• You’re voting for the first time in a federal election
• You registered by mail or online, AND
• You did not provide your CA ID or SSN when registering

You’ll be notified in advance if this applies to you.

What Forms of ID Are Acceptable (if required)?

You can show a photo or non-photo ID, including:

• California Driver’s License or State ID card
• U.S. Passport
• Student or Military ID
• Official mail from a government agency
• Paycheck or government check
• Utility bill or bank statement

For a complete list, see: www.sos.ca.gov/elections/hava-id-standards

Photo ID is not required, it’s just one of many valid options. ID does not need to show your address or be governmentissued.

Don’t Have ID When Voting?

You can still cast a provisional ballot. Your ballot will be counted after elections officials have confirmed you are registered to vote in that county, and you did not already vote in that election.

Check Your Voter Status Online

Visit the Secretary of State’s My Voter Status page at voterstatus.sos.ca.gov to check your voter status, find your polling place or a vote center, and much more.

To check your voter status, you will need to enter your first name, last name, date of birth, and your California driver’s license or California identification card number, or the last four digits of your social security number.

Visit voterstatus.sos.ca.gov for important voter details.

For more information, visit vote.ca.gov or
call our Voter Hotline at (800) 345-VOTE (8683).

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