TODAY IS THE LAST DAY TO REGISTER TO VOTE IN THE NOVEMBER 6 ELECTION
TODAY IS THE LAST DAY TO REGISTER TO VOTE IN THE NOVEMBER 6 ELECTION
Conditional Voter Registration Available Through Election Day
SANTA CLARA COUNTY, CALIF. – Today is the last day to register to vote in the November 6, 2018 General Election, which includes 144 Federal, State and local races in Santa Clara County. If eligible residents miss the deadline, they can still register with Conditional Voter Registration (CVR) which is offered only at the Registrar of Voters Office or at one of the Early Voting Centers, not at the polling sites. CVR requires a voter to register in person and vote a CVR provisional ballot. But Santa Clara County elections officials urge registering as early as possible to avoid an unnecessary wait and to receive a regular ballot and voting materials.
“Voting is one of our most fundamental rights as citizens and the foundation of democracy,” said Registrar of Voters Shannon Bushey. “The Registrar of Voters’ Office is here to answer your questions, register you to vote and make sure you are ready to make your voice heard on Election Day.”
Registration can be done online at sccvote.org, under the Register to Vote tab. Voters who would like to check their registration status may do so by clicking the Check Your Registration Status. Voters may also request to vote by mail for this election on the Request a Vote by Mail Ballot, or they may request to become permanent Vote by Mail voters by selecting Permanent Vote by Mail.
Online registration must be completed before midnight in order to meet the deadline. Alternatively, voters can sign and return paper registration forms by mail; forms that are postmarked today will be accepted. Paper registration forms are available at post offices, public libraries, fire stations, city halls, and most local government offices. The Registrars’ office will be open until 6 p.m. today.
A voter should complete a new registration form if he or she has moved, changed their name, or would like to change political party preference. To register to vote in Santa Clara County, a voter must be a U.S. citizen, at least 18 years old on or before Election Day, a Santa Clara County resident, not imprisoned or on parole for a felony, and not currently found mentally incompetent to vote by a court.
On January 1, 2017, a process called Conditional Voter Registration (CVR) became effective in California. Under this law, eligible voters who missed the 15-day registration deadline have the opportunity to come to the Registrar of Voters’ Office for two weeks leading up to and including Election Day and conditionally register to vote. This service will also be available at Early Voting Centers starting October 27, however, not at the polling sites.
With Conditional Voter Registration, the individual completes a Voter Registration Card and is given a CVR provisional ballot to vote. Once the County processes the registration, determines the person’s eligibility and validates the information, the registration becomes permanent and the ballot will be counted. Conditional Voter Registrations are treated and processed the same as other registrations, and the ballots are treated and processed the same as other provisional ballots.
For Early Voting Center locations and hours or other information, contact the Registrar of Voters’ Office at 1-408-299-VOTE (8683) or toll-free at 1-866-430-VOTE (8683), or visit www.sccvote.org.
