Attention parents of 16 or 17-year-olds whose 18th birthday is November 3, 2020 or earlier!
One More “To be Vote Ready”: If you are 18 or older, you should already be registered. However, if you are 16 or 17 and your 18th birthday is November 3, 2020 or earlier, you can pre-register now and become “Vote Ready” for the November 3rd election!
Eligible 16 and 17-year-olds may pre-register by visiting the California Secretary of State website at registertovote.ca.gov and clicking on the “click here to pre-register to vote” button. California youth who pre-register to vote will have their registration become active once they turn 18 years old. California residents 18 and older can also register or check their registration at this site.
Pre-registration does not change the voting age, which is 18. Instead, it allows eligible Californians ages 16 or 17 to complete the online voter registration form providing sufficient time and opportunity to get ready to become “Vote Ready.”
California youth who are 16 or 17 and meet the following criteria are eligible to use this online pre-registration program:
- A United States citizen and a resident of California,
- Not currently in state or federal prison or on parole for the conviction of a felony (for more information on the rights of people who have been incarcerated, please see the Secretary of State’s Voting Rights: Persons with a Criminal History), and
- Not currently found mentally incompetent to vote by a court (for more information, please see Voting Rights: Persons Subject to Conservatorship).
So, if you meet these criteria, please pre-register today – then tell all of your 16 and 17-year-old friends that you have become “Vote Ready” and urge them to do it, too!
More Vote-by-Mail (VBM) Information:
On Monday, August 24th, Congressman Mark DeSaulnier conducted a Virtual Town Hall discussion on the Postal Service and voting in Contra Costa. He was joined by a panel consisting of Harold Kelso, California State President of the National Association of Letter Carriers, Deborah Cooper, Contra Costa County Clerk-Recorder and Registrar of Voters, and Scott Konopasek, Assistant Registrar. Click here to watch the recording.
Here are some highlights of that discussion:
- Kelso recommended mailing your VBM ballots no later that October 20th. This would give the USPS sufficient time to get all of the VBM ballots postmarked and delivered by Nov 3rd.
- Voter Information Guides will be mailed September 24th. It will include locations of all secure ballot drop boxes and early voting sites in your local area.
- All secure ballot drop boxes will be available 24/7 from October 6 to November 3.
- 16 early voting sites will be open October 30 (Fri., Sat., Mon., & Election Day).
- If you haven’t received a ballot by October 19th, contact the CCC Elections Office by email at ballots@vote.cccounty.us or phone at 925-336-7800.
- Although the official last day to request a VBM ballot is October 27, the recommended last day is October 17th to allow for possible delivery problems or resolution of any ballot errors.
- Be sure to sign you VBM ballot with the same signature you signed your driver’s license of CS State ID card
- All VBM ballots must be postmarked or deposited in a secure ballot drop box no later than 8:00 pm November 3rd.
- ALL ballots postmarked on or before Election Day must be received and counted by the CCC Elections office no later than November 20th. Sign up & track your ballot through the State “WheresMyBallot” program at https://california.ballottrax.net/voter.
- To confirm that your ballot has been issued by, or received at CCC Elections Office, use “My Voting Information” tool at contracostacore.us
- All CCC polling places open for the March 3rd Primary Election will be open for the November 3rd General Election.