| QUESTIONS ABOUT VOTER REGISTRATION
Q: Who can register to vote?
A: You may register to vote if you meet ALL of
the following criteria:
- A citizen of the United States;
- A resident of California;
- At least 18 years of age as of the day of the next
election;
- Not in prison or on parole for the conviction of a
felony; and
- Not declared to be mentally incompetent by a court.
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Q: When can I register to vote?
A: There is no waiting period, you may register
or re-register to vote at anytime. To be eligible to
vote in an election you must have registered by 15
days prior to the election.
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Q: How can I get a form to register to vote?
A: You may register to vote:
-
By mail: Mail-in registration forms are widely available at
most County buildings, post offices, libraries, city
halls, fire stations, Department of Motor Vehicle
(DMV) offices and public assistance offices (CSA,
WIC).
-
By phone: call the Registrar's office at 209-525-5200 or
209-525-5230 for Spanish language assistance;
209-525-5245 (Telephone Device- for Deaf, TDD).
Registration forms are also available by calling:
California Secretary of State's office at
1-800-345-VOTE.
- In Person: Go to the Stanislaus County Elections Office;
- At any City Clerk's office in the state or county or voter registration event
anywhere in California;
- At the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV): Fill out a voter registration form when applying for
or renewing your driver's license or California
State ID card; or
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Q: May I register to vote at my business address or
may I use my P.O. Box number?
A: No. A person may only register to
vote at his or her place of residence. A business
address or a P.O. Box number may only be used as a
mailing address.
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Q: When is it necessary to re-register?
A: When you move, change your name or, wish to
change your political party affiliation. Your voter
registration should always reflect your current
residence address to ensure that you receive the
correct ballot material regarding candidates and
measures on which you can vote.
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Q: What if I just moved and did not
re-register? Will I be eligible to vote?
A: If you were previously registered within
Stanislaus County and moved within the County's
borders, you can vote at the polling place for your
new address. You should bring your California Driver's
License or California State ID Card with your current
address or TWO of the following forms of
Identification that include your name and current
residence address:
- Mail addressed to the voter at his or her current
residence address
- Utility bill
- Credit card bill
- Military identification
- College or University fee card or student
Identification card
- Lease agreement
- Mortgage statement
- Property tax statement
- Income Tax return
- Bank statement
- Preprinted check or bank deposit slip
- Vehicle registration
- Sworn statement from another voter in the precinct,
stating that he or she knows and can identify the
person who is attempting to vote and attesting to
the name and residence address of the person
attempting to vote. This sworn statement must be
given in the presence of an election officer at the
polling place.
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Q: I did not vote in the last
election. Do I need to re-register?
A: No. You are registered to vote as long as
you remain at the same address, and you should
continue to receive election materials in the mail.
However, if you move to a different address or have
not voted in the last several elections, you may be
sent a notice requesting that you either confirm that
you have not moved or provide current residence
address information. Your registration may be canceled
for failure to respond to an address confirmation
mailing or if you have not voted at any elections
occurring between the date of the mailing and two
consecutive federal general elections.
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Q: I would like to register and vote
but I am a public figure. Will my address be made
public?
A: You can be declared a Confidential Voter
By Order of Superior Court or Safe at Home Program. Any person may have his/her residence address,
telephone number and email address declared
confidential upon order of the Superior Court, or upon
presentation of certification that the person is a
participant in the Secretary of State's Address
Confidentiality for Victims of Domestic Violence and
Stalking Program.
- Any person granted confidentiality under these
circumstances shall be considered an absentee voter
for all subsequent County elections or until the
County is notified otherwise by the court, the
Secretary of State's office or in writing by the
voter.
Under current state law, voter registration
information is a matter of public record. Public
access to specific voter information, including home
address and telephone number however, is restricted.
Exceptions: Confidential voter information is available to:
- candidates;
- campaign committees; and
- authorized persons using this information for election, scholarly,
journalistic, political or governmental purposes.
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Q: I became a "new citizen" after the registration deadline. Can I still register and
vote?
A: Yes. Persons who become citizens
after the close of registration may only vote at the
Elections Office between the 14th and 7th day before
an election. New citizens must present a Certificate
of Naturalization and declare that they have
established residency in Stanislaus County.
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Q: Can an ex-felon register to vote and be eligible to
vote?
A: Yes. An ex-felon can register to vote and is
eligible to vote in elections if he/she is not
currently in prison or on parole for a felony
conviction.
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Q: I registered at a Department of Motor Vehicle (DMV)
office. Why does the County say I'm not registered?
A: A number of citizens who thought they had
registered at DMV offices are not actually registered.
Although they checked the box on the DMV form
indicating they wanted to register to vote, many
forgot to complete the attached voter registration
form. A voter registration form must be completed and
signed in order to become a registered voter.
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Q: Why is the DMV involved in voter
registration?
A: The National Voter Registration Act of 1993
(also known as Motor Voter) permits persons conducting
business at a DMV office to register to vote or update
voter registration information.
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Q: May I sign a petition if I am not registered to
vote?
A: No. You must be a registered voter
for your signature to be valid on a petition. If you
complete and sign a voter registration form on the
same date or a date prior to signing the petition,
your signature will be valid. The elections official
must receive the completed/signed voter registration
form on or before the date the petition is filed with
the elections office.
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Q: Is it true that voter
registration lists are used to select citizens for
jury duty?
A: Yes. California State Statutes
require that lists of registered voters be provided to
the Jury Commissioner to be used for jury duty
selection.
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Q: If I cancel my voter
registration, can I be certain that I will not get a
summons for jury duty?
A: No. The Jury Services Division
requests a list of active and cancelled voter files.
Additionally, California State Statute requires that
lists of licensed drivers, obtained from Department of
Motor Vehicles (DMV), also be made available to the
Jury Commissioner. For additional information
regarding voter registration, see 'Voter Registration'
on the Clerk-Recorder / Registrar of Voters website:
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QUESTIONS ABOUT VOTE BY MAIL/ABSENTEE BALLOTS
Q: How can I vote an Absentee/Vote by Mail Ballot?
A: Voting by mail is the same as voting by
absentee ballot. Rather than going to the polling
place to cast a ballot on Election Day, you may
request an absentee/vote by mail ballot. Any
registered voter may apply for an absentee/vote by
mail ballot. Applying is easy. Simply select one of
the following options:
-
By Mail: 1.) Complete the absentee/vote by mail ballot
application that is on the back cover of the sample
ballot (sent to you prior to each election) and mail
to County Elections Office.
-
By Mail: 2.) Send a signed letter requesting absentee voter
status to the Stanislaus County Clerk-Recorder /
Registrar of Voters Office at 1021 “I” Street, Suite
101, Modesto, CA 95354.
-
By Fax: The fax number for the Stanislaus County
Clerk-Recorder / Registrar of Voters Office is 209-525-5210.
-
If you apply in writing or by fax, your request must
include your name, your residence/home address, the
mailing address where you want your absentee ballot
to be sent and the name and the date of the election
for which you are applying. Remember to sign and
date your request!
-
By Internet: Download and complete an absentee ballot application
from our web site under the 'Absentee Voting'
section. Further information can be obtained by
calling the office at 209-525-5200, or 209-525-5230
for Spanish language assistance.
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Q: When do I apply for an absentee/vote by mail
ballot?
A: You may request an absentee ballot:
-
As early as 60 days prior to an election.
Except for overseas ballots, absentee ballots are
mailed to applicants beginning on the first legal
day to mail, which is 29 days prior to an election.
The elections official cannot accept any mail
applications less than 7 days (6 or less days) prior
to an election.
-
During the final 6 days prior to an election.
If you become ill, disabled or find that you will be
away from your polling place on Election Day, you
may vote an emergency absentee ballot. You can vote
in person at the Elections Office or send in a
written/signed request for an absentee ballot
authorizing another person to bring you the ballot
and return it to the Elections Office or any polling
place after you have voted.
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Q: When is the first day to apply for an absentee/vote by
mail ballot for an election?
A: 60 days prior to an election is the
first day to submit an application for an election.
Mailing absentee/vote by mail ballots begins 29 days
prior to the election.
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Q: When is the last day to apply for an absentee/vote by
mail ballot for an election?
A: 7 days prior to the election is the
last day to apply for an absentee/vote by mail ballot
application for the election. However, if you become
ill, disabled or find that you will be away from your
polling place on Election Day, 6 days prior to an
election, you may vote an emergency absentee ballot.
You can vote in person at the Clerk-Recorder /
Registrar of Voters or send in a written/signed
request authorizing another person to bring you the
ballot and return it to the Elections Office or the
polling place, after you have voted.
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Q: When is the last day to return my voted absentee/vote
by mail ballot?
A: Absentee/vote by mail ballots must be received by the
Registrar of Voters no later than the close of polls
(8 p.m.) on Election Day. Postmarks are not acceptable
in California.
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Q: How do I turn in my absentee/vote by mail ballot on
Election Day?
A: You may return it in person to any precinct
polling place in your county or to the County
Elections Office by 8:00 p.m. on Election Day. If,
because of illness or physical disability, you are
unable to return the ballot yourself, you may
authorize, in writing, a spouse, child, parent,
grandparent, grandchild, brother or sister to return
the ballot to the Elections Office or to any polling
place within the County by 8 p.m. on Election Day.
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Q: Are there circumstances under
which a voter can be required to vote an absentee/vote
by mail ballot?
A: Yes. If a voting precinct has 250 or less
registered voters on the 88th day prior to an
election, that precinct can be declared a " vote by
mail ballot" precinct by the Registrar of Voters due
to the unavailability of voting locations and Election
Officers in small precincts. All voters in such
designated precincts will automatically be sent vote
by mail ballots for that election.
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Q: I am physically
challenged/disabled and I must vote by mail. Do I have
to apply for an absentee/vote by mail ballot for each
election?
A: No. You can apply for "Permanent
Absentee Voter" status. Once on file as a permanent
absentee voter, you will no longer have to apply for
future elections. A ballot will automatically be
mailed to you for each election. A spouse or other
person who resides with you may also want to apply for
Permanent Absentee Voter status. Once a voter receives
Permanent Absentee Voter status, he/she will retain
this status as long as he/she casts a ballot in all
statewide elections. For additional information on
becoming a Permanent Absentee Voter, please refer to
your sample ballot booklet or call the Elections
Office at 209-525-5200, or 209-525-5230 for Spanish
language assistance.
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Q: If I request an absentee/vote by
mail ballot, can I change my mind and still vote at my
polling place?
A: Yes, but please take your absentee/vote by
mail ballot to the polling place and surrender it to
the Election Officers before voting a regular precinct
ballot. If you do not have your absentee/vote by mail
ballot to surrender, you will be allowed to cast a
"provisional" ballot at the polling place.
Your provisional ballot will be counted after the
elections official confirms that you did not
previously vote using an absentee ballot for that
election.
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Q: I received an absentee/vote by
mail application from a political campaign. Is this
legal to use?
A: Yes. Individuals, organizations and
groups may distribute absentee/vote by mail ballot
applications; however, they must use the standard
format as specified in the California Elections Code.
Election officials are not responsible for
absentee/vote by mail ballot applications mailed to
these individuals or groups. To ensure your ballot is
mailed to you in a timely manner, it is recommended
that you fax, mail or bring your application directly
to the Elections Office.
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QUESTIONS ABOUT VOTING
Q: Where do I go to vote/ where is my polling place?
A: Your polling place location is printed on
the back cover of your sample ballot booklet. Please
check the polling place address for each election
because locations often change. Also, poll locations
are available on our website or by calling
209-525-5200, or 209-525-5230 for Spanish language
assistance. You might also consider asking a neighbor,
since it is likely they are assigned to the same
precinct polling place.
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Q: What are the poll hours of operation?
A: County election polling places are open from
7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Q: Why was my polling place changed?
A: In California, there are no permanent poll
sites. Locations may change from election to election
if a facility previously used is not available for a
particular election. Changes to precinct boundaries
may sometimes occur when precincts are consolidated or
realigned, especially for local elections that are not
statewide. Voters should refer to their sample ballot
booklet to make sure that they go to the correct
polling place location.
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Q: What do I do if my polling place
is not open when I arrive election morning?
A: Check the address on the back cover of your
sample ballot booklet to make sure you have gone to
the right location. Polling places often change
between elections. If you are at the correct location,
call the Elections Office at 209-525-5200 or
209-525-5230 for Spanish language assistance to report
that the polling place is not open.
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Q: Can I take my sample ballot or my own written
voting choices into the voting booth?
A: Yes. It is recommended that you mark
your voting choices in your sample ballot and take it
to your poll location on Election Day to use as a
reference. This will allow you to vote your ballot
quickly. Remember to take your sample ballot out of
the voting booth after you have completed voting.
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Q: If I do not know what to do when
I get to the polling place, will someone help me?
A: Yes. Ask the Election Officers to
help you with the voting process. Election Officers
cannot, however, help you in making decisions on your
voting choices.
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Q: Can I vote for someone whose name is not listed on
the ballot?
A: Yes if the person is a qualified
write-in candidate. Only votes for qualified write-in
candidates will be counted. Ask Election Officers or
call the County Elections Office for a list of
those candidates. They can also assist you with
write-in voting procedures.
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Q: What are the qualified political parties?
A: American Independent Party, Democratic
Party, Green Party, Libertarian Party, Natural Law
Party, Reform Party and Republican Party.
California law also permits you to register as a
non-partisan voter (meaning that you are not
affiliated with any of these parties). Pursuant to new
law, non-partisan voters may or may not be allowed to
vote for partisan candidates in Primary Elections
depending on party adopted rules.
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Q: What is Fail Safe voting?
A: Voters who have moved within Stanislaus County and did
not re-register to vote may vote as “Fail Safe”
voters.
In 1983 a process for voting provisionally was added
to the California law under California Elections Code
§ 14310. The process provided that any voter claiming
to be properly registered was entitled to vote even
though the voter's qualification or entitlement to
vote could not be immediately established.
An additional code section Elections Code §14311 was
added by Chapter 919 in 1995 in response to provisions
of the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (NVRA/"Motor
Voter") Section 8 (e)(2)(A)(ii)(II) known as "Fail
Safe."
Provisional ballots only counted when:
- The Elections officials establish from the records
in their office the voter's right to vote prior to
the completion of the official canvass; or
- By order of the Superior Court in the county of the
voter's residence.
PROOF OF RESIDENCE REQUIRED:
Voters who moved within Stanislaus County and did not
re-register to vote, will be required to show proof of
residence. Documents that can be used as proof of
residence include either:
1. Driver's license or State Identification card with
the voter's name and NEW residence address printed on
it;
OR
2. TWO of the following documents. Both must contain
the voter's name and the current address where the
voter lives as found under the California Code of
Regulations § 20107.
- Military identification
- College or university fee card or student
identification
- Lease agreement
- Mortgage statement
- Property tax statement
- Income tax return
- Utility bill
- Credit card bill
- Bank statement
- Preprinted check or bank deposit slip
- Mail addressed to the voter at his or her current
residence address
- Sworn statement given in the presence of a poll
worker at the polling place from a voter in the
precinct stating he or she knows and can identify
the person who is attempting to vote, and attesting
to the name and residence address of the person
attempting to vote.
If the current residence of the voter does not have a
street address or the voter is unable to receive mail
at his or her street address and the voter is unable
to provide a Driver's License or identification listed
in A-L above, then proof of current residence shall
consist of two documents from the categories listed
below both of which shall contain the name of the
voter and description of the property at which the
current residence of the voter is located:
- Deed or lease containing the legal description of
the current residence address
- Property tax statement containing the assessor's
parcel number, or
- Sworn statement given in the presence of a poll
worker at the polling place from a voter in the
precinct stating he or she knows and can identify
the person who is attempting to vote, and attesting
to the name and residence address of the person
attempting to vote.
CA Government Code § 12172.5
CA Elections Code § 14311
CA Elections Code § 14311
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QUESTIONS ABOUT BILINGUAL SERVICES
Q: Is there oral assistance or written voting
materials available in languages, other than English?
A: Yes. In accordance with Federal law
and local ordinance, Stanislaus County provides voter
registration information, election materials and oral
assistance in English and Spanish. Voters who request
election materials in the Spanish language will be
mailed a translated sample ballot for all Stanislaus
County conducted elections. Additionally, poll
locations that have been identified as requiring oral
language assistance are supplied with translated
voting materials and staffed with bilingual speaking
Election Officers whenever possible. Signs are posted
in those poll locations identifying that the Spanish
language is spoken.
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QUESTIONS ABOUT VOTERS WITH DISABILITIES
Q: I am disabled/physically
challenged what voting choices are available to me?
A: It is our goal to have 100% polling place
accessibility for all voters who seek independent
voting options. In compliance with federal and state
law, we provide the following services to voters with
disabilities:
- Accessible polling places. The international symbol
of access is used on the sample ballot booklet to
identify accessible polling places.
- Wheelchair accessible voting booths at all
Stanislaus County polling places.
- Large type voting instructions and magnifying
devices at polling places.
- Curbside voting. Voters who cannot get inside the
polling place, because of architectural barriers or
other limitations may request to vote "curbside"
(outside of the poll location). An Election Officer
will bring a ballot and punching device outside and
assist the voters in casting a ballot.
- Telecommunications Device (TDD) is available for the
hearing impaired. The TDD assistance number is
209-525-5245.
- Recorded cassette tapes with state and county ballot
measures are available at the Elections Office in
English and Spanish.
- Absentee/vote-by-mail and permanent
absentee/vote-by-mail voting options.
- Election Officer assistance at precinct polling
places.
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QUESTIONS ABOUT RUNNING FOR OFFICE
Q: I would like to run for office. What are the
qualifications and requirements?
A: Candidate qualifications and filing
requirements are specific for different elective
offices. For general information regarding candidate
qualifications, filing requirements, filing periods,
campaign statement/financial disclosure reporting,
call for Election Information at: 209-525-5200, or
209-525-5230 for Spanish language assistance.
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MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION
Q: How can I find out my districts (congressional,
legislative, supervisorial etc.)?
A: Contact the Elections Office at 209-525-5200
or 209-525-5230 for Spanish language assistance or
click on SmartVoter.com.
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Q: How do I get election results?
A: Contact the Elections Information Section at
209-525-5200 or 209-525-5230 for Spanish language
assistance or click on Election Results on our website.
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IMPORTANT CONTACT NUMBERS
Voter Registration/Sample Ballot
Inquiries
To verify registration status or inquire about a
sample ballot call:
209-525-5200 or 209-525-5230 for Spanish
language assistance
209-525-5245 for TDD Hearing Impaired
Absentee/ Vote-by-Mail Ballot Inquiries:
To apply for absentee/vote by mail or
Permanent Absent Voter status call:
209-525-5200
Election Information
General information on election, registration
and voting services call: 209-525-5200.
Bilingual Sample Ballot Translation
To receive a translated sample ballot
booklet in Spanish, call: 209-525-5230.
Precinct Officers/ Polls
To become a precinct officer, offer a home
as a polling place, or report polling place
problems call: 209-525-5200.
Registering to Vote
To register to vote during regular business
hours of 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. call:
209-525-5200.
Candidate Nomination Procedures
For information regarding election dates,
elected offices, qualifications for office,
nomination filing dates and procedures call:
209-525-5200.
Clerk-Recorder / Registrar of Voters
Lee Lundrigan, Esquire
1021 “I” Street, Suite 101
Modesto, CA 95354
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