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AP20:027
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 3, 2020
CONTACT:
SOS Press Office
(916) 653-6575
Election Day in California, Polls Open Now
SACRAMENTO, CA – Today, Californians will head to the polls to vote on one statewide proposition, as well as the primaries for U.S. President, U.S. House of Representatives, and State Legislative offices. Polls are open from 7:00am to 8:00pm.
“As the polls open on Super Tuesday, voter registration is at an all-time high in California,” Secretary of State Alex Padilla said. “If you still need to cast your ballot, make a plan before heading to the polls. With record voter registration and excitement around the Presidential Primaries, wait times may be longer than normal. Californians can find all the resources they need to vote at vote.ca.gov”
“California voters have a right to cast a ballot, as long as they are in line at the polls by 8:00pm. Voters who still have their vote-by-mail ballot can drop it off at any polling location, Vote Center, or ballot dropbox,” Padilla said.
Same Day Voter Registration
There is a new opportunity for California citizens who missed the voter registration deadline — Same Day Voter Registration is available at every county elections office, polling place, or vote center. Voters will be asked to fill out a voter registration form and then be provided a ballot. Their ballots will be counted once the county elections office has completed the voter registration verification process.
* With the signing of SB 207 by Governor Newsom on February 13, 2020, voters who wish to update their political party preference or their address (if moving within the same county) do not have to complete an entire voter registration affidavit during the Same Day Voter Registration process. Voters making these changes will be able to do so using a simplified form.
Californians who are unsure of their voter registration status can quickly check it online at voterstatus.sos.ca.gov.
No Party Preference Voters – Voting for President
No Party Preference voters who want to vote for a Democratic, Libertarian, or American Independent Party candidate for president can do so by requesting a “crossover” ballot for that specific party. Crossover ballots are available at all polling locations. No Party Preference voters who received a “non-partisan” vote-by-mail ballot without presidential candidates can bring it to a polling location and exchange it for a partisan ballot.
No Party Preference voters who want to vote for a Republican, Green, or Peace and Freedom candidate for president can do so by first completing the Same Day Vote Registration process and re-registering with that specific party.
Voter Bill of Rights
"In California, we have a Voter Bill of Rights, to ensure that every eligible voter can cast a ballot easily, confidentially, and free from intimidation. The California Voter Bill of Rights is printed in the Voter Information Guide, which was sent to every voting household in the state, and will also be posted in every polling place and vote center on Election Day. The Voter Bill of Rights is also available online in ten languages: http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voter-bill-rights/.”
“The Secretary of State’s office also released a video outlining the California Bill of Rights in English and Spanish. It only takes minutes to review your rights before heading to the polls," Padilla added.
Click here to view the California Voter Bill of Rights video.
The California Voter Bill of Rights is available online in 10 languages: English, Spanish, Chinese, Hindi, Japanese, Khmer, Korean, Tagalog, Thai, and Vietnamese.
To download the California Voter Bill of Rights visit:
http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voter-bill-rights/
Voter Hotline
“The Secretary of State's office also operates a toll free voter hotline. Voters can call to ask election-related questions, to file complaints, or to confidentially report potential election fraud or voter intimidation,” Padilla said.
Voter Hotlines:
- (800) 345-VOTE (8683) - English
- (800) 232-VOTA (8682) - español / Spanish
- (800) 339-2857 - 中文 / Chinese
- (888) 345-2692 - हिन्दी / Hindi
- (800) 339-2865 - 日本語 / Japanese
- (888) 345-4917 - ខ្មែរ / Khmer
- (866) 575-1558 - 한국어 / Korean
- (800) 339-2957 - Tagalog
- (855) 345-3933 - ภาษาไทย / Thai
- (800) 339-8163 - Việt ngữ / Vietnamese
- (800) 833-8683 - TTY/TDD
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