The November 2024 General Election is just around the corner! Are you ready to cast your vote and make your voice heard?
Whether you are a first-time voter or a life-long voter, below is all of the important information you will need to exercise your right and have your vote counted.
REGISTER TO VOTE
All registered voters in California will receive a vote-by-mail ballot in the mail before the election. Ballots will be mailed beginning Monday, October 7, 2024.
To make sure you get your ballot, double-check your voter registration at voterstatus.sos.ca.gov.
Not registered yet? Visit registertovote.ca.gov to register online.
If your name, address, or political party have changed since the last time you voted, you will need to re-register to vote.
The deadline to register to vote is Monday, October 21, 2024.
Same Day Voter Registration: Although it is best that you register by the deadline, if you miss it, you can still vote! Same Day Voter Registration, or Conditional Voter Registration, is a safety net for Californians who miss the deadline to register to vote or update their voter registration information for an election. Same Day Registration is available at the Alameda County Registrar of Voters Office or at any voting center in Alameda County.
Lost your ballot or need a replacement? Only the registered voter themself may request a replacement ballot. A request for a replacement ballot that is made by any person other than the registered voter is a criminal offense. Fill out the California Replacement Ballot Application and return it to the Alameda County Registrar of Voters Office by 5:00 pm on Tuesday, October 29, 2024.
YOUTH VOTE FOR SCHOOL BOARD
For the first time ever, 16- and 17-year-olds in Oakland and Berkeley will be able to vote in their respective elections for school board in November 2024. This expansion of the local franchise is thanks to the passage of Measure Y1, approved by over 70 percent of voters in Berkeley in 2016, and of Measure QQ, approved in 2020 with 2/3 support of Oakland voters.
A resident of Oakland or Berkeley who is 16 or 17 and who is otherwise eligible must use California’s pre-registration system to register to vote as a “youth voter.” Any 16- or 17- year-old residing in Oakland or Berkeley who previously pre-registered to vote will be automatically registered as a youth voter. Be sure to select the “pre-register to vote” option.
You may also register to vote in person at the Alameda County Registrar’s office, in Oakland. Paper forms may also be available at some public libraries and DMV locations. When completing a paper registration, be sure to check the box at the top of the page that states you are age 16-17.
Learn more:
- Oakland Youth Vote
- “How Teen Voters in Berkeley, Oakland Can Shape Upcoming School Board Elections” | KQED
WHERE’S MY BALLOT?
You can check the status of your ballot anytime – from the time it is mailed to you until your completed ballot is received by the Alameda County Registrar of Voters.
Track your ballot at california.ballottrax.net/voter
HOW TO VOTE
U.S. Mail: Send your completed, sealed, and signed ballot in the mail. As always, It is easy, safe, and secure. Your ballot must be postmarked by November 5, 2024 (Election Day) and received by the Alameda County Registrar’s Office no later than November 12, 2024. Do not affix postage to your return envelope! You will be provided with a pre-paid envelope to mail your ballot.
24-Hour Drop Box: Drop boxes are located throughout Alameda County. You can drop your ballot anytime between now and 8:00 pm on Election Day. Click here for locations.
Vote Centers: There will be 100 Vote Centers for the General Election which any Alameda County voter can visit. In-person voting locations will available either 11 days or 4 days before Election Day, as well as all-day on Election Day. At any vote center in a participating county, a voter may:
- Vote in-person
- Drop off their ballot
- Get a replacement ballot
- Vote using an accessible voting machine
- Get help and voting material in multiple languages
- Register to vote or update their voter registration
Visit acgov.org/rov_app/vcalist to find a Voting Center closest to you.
Early Voting at the Registrar of Voters Office: Beginning Monday, October 7, 2024, you can vote in-person at the ROV’s Office, located at 1225 Fallon Street G-1, in Oakland. The office is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM. The weekend before the election, the office will be open from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
Ballot Drop Stops: There will be drive-through ballot drop stops located throughout Alameda County on specific days. Check the schedule to find a stop nearest you.
Disabled and Homebound Voters: Learn about all of the accessible options available to ensure you can cast your vote, including Remote Accessible Vote by Mail and the ACVOTE On The Go Program, at: acvote.alamedacountyca.gov/accessibility
WHAT IS ON THE BALLOT?
From United States President and state propositions to city council members and local measures, voters have a lot to decide on in this election. Here are some resources to make the process a little less overwhelming and easy to understand.
Easy Voter Guide: Unbiased publication available in 5 languages for new and busy voters, providing important information about voting and the state ballot measures. The Easy Voter Guide is community reviewed to ensure the information is easy to understand.
VOTE411.org: Launched by the League of Women Voters Education Fund (LWVEF) in October of 2006, VOTE411.org is a “one-stop-shop” for election related information. It provides nonpartisan information to the public with both general and state-specific information.
CalMatters Voting Guide: CalMatters is a nonpartisan and nonprofit news organization that covers California stories and aims to make government more transparent and accountable. Their 2024 Voting Guide covers nonpartisan analysis of federal and state races, as well as state propositions. The guide also provides detailed fundraising information and current election news.
CHECK YOUR SOURCES
Now more than ever, it is critical that voters be aware of efforts to undermine or influence the outcome of our elections through misinformation and disinformation, particularly on social media and through text messages/phone calls. Always double-check with a trusted, well-verified source when it comes to the election. If you are not sure the information you receive is accurate when it comes to your voter registration status, voting options, voting deadlines, or anything else about the election, the Alameda County Registrar of Voters is the best place to verify that information.
KNOW YOUR RIGHTS
Everyone who is eligible to vote should be able to do so free of intimidation or suppression, and should not be denied access.
Read the California Voter Bill of Rights.
If you believe you have been denied any of these rights, or you are aware of any election fraud or misconduct, please call the Secretary of State’s confidential toll-free Voter Hotline at (800) 345-VOTE (8683).