Voter Engagement – Initiate Justice

Upcoming Statewide Elections :General Election: November 5th, 2024
https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections

Organizers at the LA Free the Vote National Voter Registration Day Resource Fair
Our community members are exercising their right to vote, join us!
Organizer and new staff member Efrain talks about what having his right to vote back means to him in an article by Spectrum 1 News:
Outside Organizer Jay votes for the first time since being released from prison:

Secretary of State’s toll-free Voter Hotline

1-800-345-VOTE (8683)

Register to Vote

If you are formerly incarcerated, go to restoreyourvote.ca.gov to register to vote
Register to vote and check your voter registration status at https://registertovote.ca.gov/
If it is less than 15 days away from an election and you are registering to vote, you’ll want to register using the Same-day registration process. Information on same-day voter registration here: https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voter-registration/same-day-reg/
View upcoming election in your county at: https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voting-resources/county-elections-offices

Am I eligible to vote?

To register to vote in California, you must be (1) A United States citizen and a resident of California, (2) 18 years old or older on Election Day, (3) Not currently serving a state or federal prison term for the conviction of a felony, and (4) Not currently found mentally incompetent to vote by a court (for more information, please see Voting Rights: Persons Subject to Conservatorship)

Persons with a criminal history who can register to vote:

In county jail:
- serving a misdemeanor sentence (a misdemeanor never affects your right to vote)
- Because jail time is a condition of probation (misdemeanor or felony)
- Serving a felony jail sentence
- Awaiting trial
On parole
On probation
On mandatory supervision
On post-release community supervision
On federal supervised release
A person with a juvenile wardship adjudication

**Persons with a criminal history who cannot register and vote:**

Those who are currently serving a state or federal prison term for the conviction of a felony in state prison, federal prison, county jail, or other correctional facility*

NOTE: Once you have finished serving your term, your right to vote is restored; however, you must register online at RegisterToVote.ca.gov or by filling out a paper voter registration card.

Need more info?

Go to the Secretary of State website at: https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voting-resources/voting-california/who-can-vote-california/voting-rights-californians

Secretary of State Frequently Asked Questions: https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/frequently-asked-questions

If you are a U.S. citizen, and are over the age of 18 by Election Day, you can vote even if you are on parole. Visit restoreyourvote.ca.gov to register today.

You may submit your voter registration application online at RegisterToVote.ca.gov. You can also pick up a paper application at your county elections office, any Department of Motor Vehicles field office, and many post offices, public libraries, and government offices. To have an application mailed to you, call your county elections office or the Secretary of State’s toll-free Voter Hotline at (800) 345-VOTE (8683).

Yes! People can use a place where they can retrieve their ballot, like a local libraries, or post office.

You can track your ballot from when it first mailed to you to when it is received and counted at https://california.ballottrax.net/voter/

If you believe that you meet the requirements to vote but are being denied your right to vote, contact the Secretary of State’s toll-free Voter Hotline at (800) 345-VOTE (8683)

Proposition 17 was a ballot initiative on the November 3rd, 2020, California ballot that restored voting rights to people on parole in CA. Nearly 50,000 Californians who return home from prison are working, paying taxes, and positively contributing to their communities but were not allowed to vote because of felony disenfranchisement laws. Initiate Justice was a lead organization on the Yes on Prop 17 campaign, along with many other groups.

Part of policy is implementation work, and IJ is committed to making sure everyone knows that they got their right to vote back.