California Attorney General Rob Bonta and Secretary of State Shirley N. Weber want all Californians to know their rights and legal protections as voters as they fulfill their civic duty. Citizens are also encouraged to make a plan to vote before the Presidential Primary Election on March 5, 2024.
“The right to vote is the cornerstone of our democracy,” said Attorney General Rob Bonta. “Knowledge is power; I implore all Californians to know their rights as voters and plan to make their voices heard at the polls. It is important for everyone to do their part to help ensure our democracy prospers. The California Department of Justice is committed to protecting the rights of all voters in our state.”
On Election Day, it is important for California’s voters to know their rights. The California Voter Bill of Rights is available on the Secretary of State’s website in nearly 30 different languages, including English, Spanish, Chinese, Hindi, Japanese, Khmer, Korean, Tagalog, Thai, Vietnamese, Arabic, Armenian, Bengali, Burmese, Gujarati, Hmong, Ilocano, Indonesian, Laotian, Mien, Mongolian, Nepali, Persian, Punjabi, Syriac, Tamil, Telugu, and Urdu. This is an important tool for understanding your rights as a Californian voter.
In California, you have the following rights:
- The right to vote if you are a registered voter, without having to present a government-issued photo ID at the polls;
- The right to vote if you are a registered voter even if your name is not on the list through the use of a provisional ballot;
- The right to vote if you are still in line when the polls close;
- The right to cast a secret ballot;
- The right to get a new ballot if you have made a mistake;
- The right to get help casting your ballot;
- The right to drop off your completed vote-by-mail ballot at any polling place;
- The right to get election materials in a language other than English;
- The right to ask election officials questions about election procedures; and
- The right to report any illegal or fraudulent election activity.
If you believe you have been denied any of these rights or are aware of any election fraud or misconduct, please call the Secretary of State’s confidential toll-free Voter Hotline at (800) 345-VOTE (8683). Under California law, voters are protected from, among other things, election interference, voter intimidation, and electioneering within 100 feet of a polling place. California law enforcement agencies are empowered to enforce California’s election laws, including during voting that occurs between now through Election Day. More information on California laws protecting the rights of voters can be found in a law enforcement bulletin available here.
Those interested in voting can visit vote.ca.gov for more helpful information on the election, including where to find their polling place. As soon as you receive your ballot, you may vote by mail or through other options made available in your area by county elections officials.
Voters can also track their vote-by-mail ballot by signing up with the Secretary of State’s Office here for text, email, or voice status alerts.
“This year, we observe the 60th Anniversary of Freedom Summer, an effort to empower those whose voting rights had been denied for decades,” said California Secretary of State Shirley N. Weber, Ph.D. “In today’s political environment, it’s important to affirm that you have explicitly enumerated rights as a voter in California and that the Attorney General and I are committed to protecting those rights.”
