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VOTING: BY MAIL

ON THIS PAGE:

• What is an absentee ballot?
• Who can vote by absentee ballot?
• How to vote by absentee ballot
• Permanent absentee voter status
• In the military and "overseas"

An absentee ballot is a paper ballot, with the same candidates and measures on it as you would receive at your polling place on election day. The ballot is mailed to you with instructions on how to mark it and how to return it.

Any California registered voter may vote by absentee ballot. You do not have to be "absent" or "out of town on election day" to vote by mail in California. You may vote an absentee ballot just because you want to.

HOW TO VOTE BY ABSENTEE BALLOT

• You must request an absentee ballot for each election unless you have permanent absentee voter status.

• You may:
  • request an absentee ballot in writing on the form provided by your County Elections Official. Many Elections Office Web sites have a copy of their form. Or there is a form printed in the sample ballot pamphlet which is mailed to you prior to each election.

  • write a letter. The letter must contain:
    • your name as it is on your voter registration application
    • the address you gave on your voter registration application
    • the address to which you want the absentee ballot sent (this address may be different from the address you gave on your voter registration application)
    • the name and date of the election
    • your signature. (If you are requesting multiple Absentee ballots for your household, include each voter's name and signature.)

• The form must be received by your County Elections Official between 29 and 7 days before the election. No absentee ballots will be mailed out 6 days or less before an election. During the 6 days before the election you may go to the office of your County Elections Official, apply for and vote an emergency absentee ballot at that office.

• You will be mailed your proper ballot.

• Read the instructions and mark the ballot.

• Put the ballot in the special return envelope and fill in the required information on the envelope. If you do not sign your name on the return envelope your ballot will not be counted. Your signature must match the signature on your voter registration application form.

• Return your ballot in the special envelope:
  • by mail (with the correct postage) or in person to the office of your County Elections Official
  • or to any polling place location in your county on election day
  Under certain circumstances you may authorize a relative or other legally authorized person to return the ballot for you.

• Your ballot must be received at the elections office or any polling place in your county before the polls close (usually 8 p.m.) on election day.

• If you make a mistake on your absentee ballot you may:
  • phone your County Elections Official and request instructions for getting a replacement
  • take your absentee ballot to your polling place on election day, give it to the poll workers, and vote a regular ballot

• If you lose your absentee ballot
  • You can get another one. Call your County Elections Official for information.
  • You may vote a provisional ballot at an early voting location or at your regular polling place on election day.

PERMANENT ABSENTEE VOTER STATUS

Anyone may apply for permanent absentee voter status by checking a box and signing your name on an absentee ballot request form. You will automatically be mailed an absentee ballot for each election as long as you continue to vote. You will not need to request an absentee ballot for each election. If you fail to vote in a statewide election, your name will be deleted from the permanent absentee voter list and you will have to rerequest permanent absentee voter status. Failure to vote does not affect your registration status.

IN THE MILITARY AND "OVERSEAS" ABSENTEE VOTING

There is a special form for registering to vote and for requesting an absentee ballot if you are living in a foreign country on election day or if you are in the military service. After you fill out the form and sign it you must mail it to your County Elections Official.

The Federal Post Card Application Form is available online. California is one of the states which will accept a printed copy of this online form. The form is also available at American Embassies and Consulates in postcard form.

A request for an absentee ballot from an overseas voter will be regarded and processed as a request for permanent absentee status.

See Military & Overseas Voter Information (California Secretary of State).

See also Registration and Absentee Voter Application (RAVA): Register to Vote Overseas and Military Absentee - Online!