Voter Requirements for California
Identification Required for Registration
When registering to vote, you must provide your California driver's license or state identification card number or the last four digits of your social security number. If you have none of the above, the state will assign you a number that will serve to identify you for voter registration purposes only.
Deadlines
General Election Registration Deadline: October 22, 2012 General Election Early Voting Deadline: Early voting is available for all registered voters starting 29 days before the election. Please check for times and locations with your county election official. The elections official must receive absentee or early ballots no later than the close of polls (8:00 pm) on Election Day. You may return your absentee ballot by returning it in person or by mail to your county election official or in person to any polling place in your county by end of polls closing on Election Day.
Identification Required at Polling Places
A first-time voter who registers and did not provide identification with their application may need to show ID at the polls. To be safe, bring your California driver's license or another photo ID.
Felon Voting
An ex-felon can register to vote and vote if he/she is not in prison or on parole for a felony conviction.
Polling Place Hours
Polling places are open from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Historical Voting Problems
A history of discrimination relating to voting and elections requires California counties Kings, Merced, Monterey and Yuba to be covered under Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act, meaning that these counties cannot legally pass and enforce any voting law without clearance from the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia or specifically from the U.S. Attorney General. The voting jurisdictions must prove the proposed voting change does not deny any person the right to vote on account of race, color, or belonging to a protected language minority group.