Student Voting Project | California

Voting at School

ID Requirements

The only identification requirement Californiahas is for first-time voters who register by mail and whose identifying numbers(Californiadriver's license or non-driver's ID number or last four digits of a SocialSecurity number) can't be verified by the state.  This is a very small number of voters.  If you fall into this category, you'll have toeither include a copy of your ID with your registration, show ID at the polls,or submit a copy with your vote-by-mail ballot. A wide range of ID is accepted, and the ID requirements must be read inthe way that's most likely to "permit voters and new registrants to vote."

Acceptable ID includes any current and valid photo ID, orany of the following documents with your name and address if they're datedwithin the past year: utility bill; bank statement; government check;government paycheck; or any other document issued by the government, includinga sample ballot, other official communication for the election in question, oryour voter notification card.   Any student ID with a photo is accepted;student housing bills, cell phone bills, and online printouts are alsoaccepted.  If you attend a public college or university,any document from your school with your name and address should work.  If you can't show ID, you can vote aprovisional ballot, which will be counted if your signature on the ballotmatches your signature on record.

Registration Requirements

The voter registration deadline is fifteen days before Election Day, and mail-in forms must be postmarked by that date.  If you become a new resident or citizen  after the deadline but at least seven days before the election, you can register at the countyelections office until seven days before the election.

Residency Requirements

Californiastudents who intend to establish their residence at a school address shouldhave no problem registering and voting there. Californiadefines voting residency as "domicile."Domicile includes the place where your habitation is fixed and you have "theintention of remaining."  Your choice to make a place your domicile orresidence is key in determining your residency for voting.  The Secretary of State has made clear that studentscan choose between their school addresses and their parents' homes whendeciding where to register to vote.  Californialaw also provides for voter registration services on college campuses,described below in the Registration section.

California courts and the Attorney General have also madeclear that if you move residences each school year and you can't establish anew residence in time to register to vote (you don't have housing yet, forinstance), you can vote at your previous school-year address.  

If you're driving in California,you should be aware that your "domicile" determines whether or not you arerequired to get a California driver's license,and the state can consider your voter registration in determining whether yourdomicile is in California.  You have ten days after becoming a California resident to geta new license.  If you have a car in California,you are also obligated to register it in Californiaany time you intend to live in the state on more than a temporary or transientbasis, and your voter registration can be considered in deciding that.  You have twenty days to register your car.

Challenges to Residency

If your county elections official refused to register to youon the basis of your residency, you can challenge the refusal in court.  If another voter thinks that you aren't aresident, they can also file an action in court to cancel your registration.

At the polls, your residency can only be challenged by amember of the precinct board—i.e., an official pollworker. You'llthen be asked under oath whether you're a resident; if you answer "yes" withoutqualifying your answer, you can vote regularly.If you refuse to answer the question, then you will not be allowed to vote.

Absentee Requirement

California is a no-fault vote-by-mail state, meaning that you do not need to give an excuse for voting absentee. All voters, including first-time voters, can vote by mail. Your application for a vote-by-mail ballot must be received by the county elections official by the seventh day before the election. Blank applications are available online at the web site of the Secretary of State’s office, and some counties allow you to submit an application online—check the web site for your county. You can also apply for permanent absentee status to be automatically mailed vote-by-mail ballots in future elections. Your ballot must be received by the elections official or the precinct board by the close of polls on Election Day. Neither your application nor your ballot has to be witnessed or notarized.

Voting at Home

ID Requirements

The only identification requirement Californiahas is for first-time voters who register by mail and whose identifyingnumbers(Californiadriver's license or non-driver's ID number or last four digits of aSocialSecurity number) can't be verified by the state.  This is a very smallnumber of voters.  If you fall into this category, you'll have toeither include a copy of your ID with your registration, show ID at thepolls,or submit a copy with your vote-by-mail ballot. A wide range of ID is accepted, and the ID requirements must be read inthe way that's most likely to "permit voters and new registrants tovote."

Acceptable ID includes any current and valid photo ID, orany of the following documents with your name and address if they're datedwithin the past year: utility bill; bank statement; government check;government paycheck; or any other document issued by the government, includinga sample ballot, other official communication for the election in question, oryour voter notification card.   Any student ID with a photo is accepted;student housing bills, cell phone bills, and online printouts are alsoaccepted.  If you attend a public college or university,any document from your school with your name and address should work.  If you can't show ID, you can vote aprovisional ballot, which will be counted if your signature on the ballotmatches your signature on record.

Registration Requirements

The voter registration deadline is fifteen days before Election Day, and mail-in forms must be postmarked by that date.  If you become a new resident or citizen  after the deadline but at least seven days before the election, you can register at the countyelections office until seven days before the election.

Residency Requirements

California students who intend to establish their residence at a school address should have no problem registering and voting there.  California defines voting residency as "domicile." Domicile includes the place where your habitation is fixed and you have "the intention of remaining."  Your choice to make a place your domicile or residence is key in determining your residency for voting.  The Secretary of State has made clear that students can choose between their school addresses and their parents' homes when deciding where to register to vote.  California law also provides for voter registration services on college campuses, described below in the Registration section.

California courts and the Attorney General have also made clear that if you move residences each school year and you can't establish a new residence in time to register to vote (you don't have housing yet, for instance), you can vote at your previous school-year address.  

If you're driving in California, you should be aware that your "domicile" determines whether or not you are required to get a California driver's license, and the state can consider your voter registration in determining whether your domicile is in California.  You have ten days after becoming a California resident to get a new license.  If you have a car in California, you are also obligated to register it in California any time you intend to live in the state on more than a temporary or transient basis, and your voter registration can be considered in deciding that.  You have twenty days to register your car.

Challenges to Residency

If your county elections official refused to register to you on the basis of your residency, you can challenge the refusal in court.  If another voter thinks that you aren't a resident, they can also file an action in court to cancel your registration.

At the polls, your residency can only be challenged by a member of the precinct board—i.e., an official pollworker. You'll then be asked under oath whether you're a resident; if you answer "yes" without qualifying your answer, you can vote regularly. If you refuse to answer the question, then you will not be allowed to vote.

Absentee Requirement

Californiais a no-fault vote-by-mail state, meaning that you do not need to give anexcuse for voting absentee.  All voters,including first-time voters, can vote by mail.Your application for a vote-by-mail ballot must be received by the countyelections official by the seventh day before the election.  Blank applications are available online atthe web site of the Secretary of State's office, and some counties allow you tosubmit an application online-check the web site for your county.  You can also apply for permanent absenteestatus to be automatically mailed vote-by-mail ballots in futureelections.  Your ballot must be receivedby the elections official or the precinct board by the close of polls onElection Day.  Neither your application nor your ballot hasto be witnessed or notarized.