Ballots are arriving in the mailboxes of people all across California for the Nov. 3 general election, raising questions about how to return them, what\u2019s being decided and when to expect results.<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s a guide for San Diego voters on what to expect.<\/p>\n
When is Election Day?<\/p>\n
The general election is Tuesday, Nov. 3, but elections are no longer one-day events. Registered California voters can vote by mail any time before that, once they have received their mail ballot, or at select polling locations across the county.<\/p>\n
What\u2019s being decided?
\nDepending on where they live, voters will face decisions on a number of statewide and local ballot measures, as well as candidate races for various leadership positions in California, counties and cities.
\nThose include statewide races for governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, controller, treasurer, attorney general, insurance commissioner and superintendent of public instruction.<\/p>\n
They also include a slew of local races \u2014 including San Diego County treasurer-tax collector, an open county supervisor seat in North County, several San Diego City Council seats and more.<\/p>\n
And around the county, voters will also make their selections for Congress and the state Legislature.<\/p>\n
Ballots are distributed based on location of residency, so voters can check their ballot and voting guide for more information or visit the websites of the San Diego County Registrar of Voters or California Secretary of State.<\/p>\n
OK, so how do I vote?<\/p>\n
If you\u2019re registered to vote in California, you should get a ballot in the mail. You have several options for how to return it.<\/p>\n
Ballot drop boxes are now open, so you can start voting and return your ballot to a drop box<\/a> as soon as you receive it.<\/p>\n In addition, all California mail ballots include a return envelope with prepaid postage, so you can just seal it, sign it and drop it in the mail. Ballots will be counted as long as they are postmarked on or before Nov. 3 and received by election officials within one week of Election Day.<\/p>\n Early in-person voting is available daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the county election office, located at 5600 Overland Avenue in Kearny Mesa.<\/p>\n Select vote centers across the county will be open daily starting Oct. 24. Then starting Oct. 31, all of the more than 200 vote centers will be open daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Nov. 3.<\/p>\n On Election Day, polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.<\/p>\n Visit CAEarlyVoting.sos.ca.gov or call (800) 345-VOTE (8683) to learn more about your options.<\/p>\n I\u2019m not registered, or I\u2019m not sure if I\u2019m registered. How do I register to vote, or how do I check to see if I am registered to vote?<\/p>\n If you\u2019re registered to vote in California, you should have received a ballot by mail.<\/p>\n If you didn\u2019t and want to find out if you are currently registered, visit voterstatus.sos.ca.gov. You can also contact the San Diego County Registrar of Voters at 858-565-5800, as well as the California Secretary of State at elections@sos.ca.gov or 800-345-VOTE (8683).<\/p>\n If you have changed your residence or mailing address, your name or your political party choice, you will need to update your registration.<\/p>\n You can register to vote online at RegisterToVote.ca.gov or in person at any Department of Motor Vehicles office or the county elections office, along with many post offices, libraries and government offices.<\/p>\n For more information on voter registration, visit sos.ca.gov\/elections\/frequently-asked-questions.<\/p>\n What is the deadline to register to vote?<\/p>\n The last day to register to vote online is Oct. 19.<\/p>\n What if I miss the registration deadline?<\/p>\n If you miss the deadline, you can still conditionally register to vote in person at a voting center and cast a provisional ballot there through Election Day.<\/p>\n Your provisional ballot will be counted once a county elections official verifies your voter registration.<\/p>\n How do I vote by mail?<\/p>\n After you have filled out your mail ballot with your choices, place it in the return envelope, seal the envelope and sign on the designated line.<\/p>\n Make sure your signature looks like the one you used when you registered to vote. If you registered to vote at the DMV or online, the signature will be the one on your driver\u2019s license or state ID.<\/p>\n Then, put your ballot into a mailbox or secure drop box, or deliver it to a voting center or county elections office.<\/p>\n I\u2019d rather vote in person. Where can I vote in person?<\/p>\n In-person voting options will be available at various locations across the county.<\/p>\n You can visit the California secretary of state\u2019s website at vote.ca.gov, call the toll-free voter hotline at 800-345-VOTE (8683) or text \u201cvote\u201d to GOVOTE (468683) to find locations nearest you.<\/p>\n What should I bring with me?<\/p>\n If you filled out your mail ballot, you should take that to the voting center.<\/p>\n Most of the time, on Election Day you are not required to show identification at the polling place, unless:<\/p>\n You are voting for the first time in a federal election, and you registered by mail.<\/p>\n You did not provide your driver\u2019s license number, state ID number or the last four digits of your Social Security number on the registration card when registering by mail.<\/p>\n What if I am not on the list of voters at my polling place?<\/p>\n If your name is not on the list of registered voters at your polling place, you have the right to cast a provisional ballot.<\/p>\n If voters are eligible to vote and vote provisionally, their ballots will be counted.<\/p>\n What happens to my ballot after I vote?<\/p>\n You can sign up to track your ballot at WheresMyBallot.sos.ca.gov and receive updates on the status of your ballot by text message (SMS), email or voice call.<\/p>\n Mail ballots must be processed and authenticated before they can be counted.<\/p>\n After the information is confirmed, ballots are counted.<\/p>\n How do I vote if I speak a language other than English?<\/p>\n San Diego County elections officials offer reference ballots and services in several languages<\/a> other than English: Spanish, Filipino, Vietnamese, Chinese, Arabic, Hindi, Hmong, Indonesian, Japanese, Khmer, Korean, Laotian, Persian, Somali and Thai.<\/p>\n I\u2019m homeless, or I don\u2019t have a permanent address. Can I still vote?<\/p>\n