6 tips for voting in California’s Nov. 4 special election

By Julia Busiek, UC Newsroom

California’s statewide special election is coming up on Tuesday, November 4. Voters will decide whether to approve Proposition 50, authorizing new Congressional district maps. Are you ready to cast your vote?

We delved into information provided by election experts at the California Secretary of State’s Office to get you the info you need.

1. Okay, so first I need to register. Where do I start?

To register and vote in the upcoming statewide special election,  you need to be 18 years old by Election Day and a U.S. citizen (in addition to some other requirements). Need to check if you qualify? See who can vote in California. Then, visit vote.gov/register to begin the registration process online. 

2. When do I need to register by?

In California, the last day to register online is Oct. 20. But if you miss that deadline, you can still vote. After Oct. 20, California voters can register at their county elections offices or use Same Day Registration on Election Day. Learn more about Same Day Voter Registration.

3. I’m all registered. Now what?

Nice! As long as you took care of that before Oct. 20, you’ll get a ballot in the mail if you registered in California. So just keep an eye out for an envelope from the California Secretary of State’s office.

You can fill out your ballot on your own time and drop it in any U.S. Postal Service mailbox, any official ballot drop box, or any official polling place, any time before polls close on Nov. 4. Postage is already paid.

Want to vote in person instead? Bring your mail-in ballot to your polling place on Nov. 4, and a poll worker will swap it out for a polling place ballot.

4. I got my ballot in the mail! And then … I lost it. Now what?

You have options. You can apply for a replacement, but you have to print off an application and mail it to your county’s election office. Or, you can go to the polls on Election Day and cast what’s called a provisional ballot: it’ll get counted like any other vote, once your county elections office has had the chance to confirm that you’re registered and that you didn’t submit a ballot by mail.

5. I can register online … so can I vote online, too?

No. Some nations have introduced online voting, but the United States isn’t one of them. In California and across the U.S., every voter must cast a paper ballot. California makes it easy, with options for casting your vote by mail, at a secure ballot drop-box, at an early voting center or at your polling place on Election Day.

6. I’m not eligible to vote in this election. Can I still get involved?

Absolutely. For starters, you may be able to sign up to work at the polls on Election Day. The job involves setting up and breaking down polling places, helping voters navigate the process and understand their rights and keeping ballots secure. It’s fun, it’s vital to the democratic process, and best of all, it pays! (The amount varies by county.)

To work the polls, you need to be a registered voter in California or a legal resident who would be eligible to vote if they were a U.S. citizen. Learn more or apply to work the polls.

You don’t have to join an organized group or take on a big-time commitment to make a difference this election season. If you’re not eligible to vote, talk to your friends who are about why their vote matters — not just to the country and your community, but to you.

Have more questions?

The California Secretary of State’s Office is the state agency that runs elections. Check out their Official Voter Information Guide for the 2025 statewide special election. 

And visit the UC Votes online hub to find more useful info and inspo for the upcoming election.