How to vote in the 2022 primary election in California

1

California’s primary election is Tuesday. County election officials across the state sent ballots to registered voters, and in-person voting is well underway.

Here’s how to register, how to vote by mail or in person, what to do if you didn’t get a ballot, and how to get more information about the election.

2

How do I check whether I’m registered to vote?

Visit the secretary of state’s office at voterstatus.sos.ca.gov to check your registration status. You’ll need your California driver’s license number or the last four numbers of your Social Security number.

3

How do I register?

The registration deadline for this year’s primary election has passed, but you can visit a voting center Tuesday to complete a conditional voter registration. This will allow you to cast a ballot, which will count after verification by county election officials.

4

Where can I find a voter guide?

The voter guide the secretary of state’s office mailed out is also available online. Voting information is available in Spanish, Chinese, Hindi, Japanese, Khmer, Korean, Tagalog, Thai and Vietnamese.

5

Can I vote if I don’t have a permanent address?

Your right to vote doesn’t cancel out if you’re homeless, living off the grid or don’t yet have a fixed place. You must, however, be 18 years or older on election day, a U.S. citizen and a state resident to qualify to vote. Voters can fill out the address section on the registrations form with the place they spend most of their time; that will help elections officials determine which contests they’re eligible to vote for.

6

What happens if I didn’t get a ballot?

If you didn’t find your ballot in the mail, you can show up at your local polling place and vote with a provisional ballot.

7

How do I return my mail-in ballot?

Ballots can be submitted in person at voting centers or in drop boxes. To find your closest center or drop boxes, enter your city and ZIP Code here. Ballots can also be mailed to county election officials so long as they are postmarked on or before Tuesday. To be counted, a ballot must be received no later than June 14.

8

I want to vote in person. How do I find out where to go?

Your sample ballot should have an address printed on it showing your local polling site. If an address isn’t listed, call the secretary of state’s voter hotline at (800) 345-8683 or search online. Early voting sites can be found here.

If you can’t find your ballot in the mail, you can show up at your local polling place and vote with a provisional ballot or request a late mail ballot.

9

OK, I voted. How can I make sure it got counted?

Track your ballot online here. There you’ll be able to see when it was received and when it was counted.

10

What happens next?

County election officials count ballots and certify the results, and mail-in ballots postmarked by election day have until June 14 to trickle in. County election officials must send official numbers to the secretary of state by July 8. And then it’s on to the Nov. 8 general election.