Registration Deadline to Vote March 2 Is Tuesday

Eligible California residents have until midnight Tuesday to register for the March 2 presidential primary.

An applicant must be a U.S. citizen, a California resident and 18 years old by election day, and may not be in prison or on parole for a felony.

Registration forms can be downloaded in multiple languages from the secretary of state’s voter information website, www.MyVoteCounts.org, and are available at city halls, post offices, libraries, and the Department of Motor Vehicles.

Mailed registration forms must be postmarked no later than Tuesday.

Prospective voters may register online at www.MyVoteCounts.org. But because verification of online registrations can take up to three weeks, those who register on the Web might not be able to vote March 2, officials said.

Starting this week, residents in Los Angeles and Riverside counties can vote early, using touch-screen locations. Check the county registrar for information on sites.

Orange County residents can vote early, using city and mall locations. Ventura County residents who wish to vote early must visit the Ventura County Elections Division.

Registered voters also may request absentee ballots by mail or may use a form found on the back of a sample ballot or downloaded from www.MyVote Counts.org. Absentee voter applications or written requests must be received by Feb. 24. The forms can be mailed or hand-delivered to the registrar’s office.

Registered voters who have not received a sample ballot can contact the registrar’s office in their county.

For more voter information call or go online:

* Los Angeles County

(800) 815-2666

www.lavote.net

* Orange County

(714) 567-7600

www.oc.ca.gov/election

* Riverside County

(909) 486-7200

www.voteinfo.net

* Ventura County

(805) 654-2664

www.ventura.org/election/ elecidx.htm