Vote on November 4th

As you know, California’s special state elections will be held next Tuesday, November 4, and voters will decide whether to approve Proposition 50, which authorizes new congressional district maps.

Are you ready to vote?

According to information from the California Secretary of State’s office, there are a few steps you need to follow to participate in this election.

The first thing we need to do is register.

And to register and vote in the upcoming special state elections, you must be 18 years old by Election Day and be a U.S. citizen (among other requirements).

To begin the online registration process, visit vote.gov/register.

You should know that in California, the last day to register online is October 20. Don’t miss that deadline; however, if you miss that deadline, you can still vote. Officials have said that after October 20, California voters can register at their county election offices or use the Registrar’s Office on Election Day. Learn more about Same-Day Voter Registration.

It’s very important to check your registration status if you’re unsure.

If you’re already registered before October 20, you’ll receive your ballot by mail if you registered in California. So, be on the lookout for an envelope from the California Secretary of State’s office.

If you already have your ballot in hand, you can complete it on your own time and drop it off at any U.S. Postal Service mailbox, any official ballot drop box, or any official polling place anytime before the polls close on November 4. Remember that ballot postage is already paid for.

Many people prefer to vote in person; if this is the case for you, take your vote-by-mail ballot to your polling place on November 4, and an election official will exchange it for a paper ballot.

Remember that participating in elections is a right, and it is very important to exercise it.

Some people have expressed concerns about what happens if they received their ballot in the mail, but then lost it.

One option is to request a replacement. To do this, you need to print a replacement ballot form, although you must print it and then mail it to your county elections office.

Another option in this situation is to go to the polls on Election Day and cast what is called a provisional ballot. This vote will be counted like any other vote once your county elections office has confirmed that you are registered and that you did not mail a ballot.

Another concern some people have is whether they can vote online, although online voting is not yet available in the United States.

As you know, in California and across the country, every voter must cast a paper ballot. California makes it easy, with options to cast your ballot by mail, in a secure drop-off box, at an early voting center, or at your polling place on Election Day.

Finally, some people who are not eligible would like to participate in the election, and if you can’t vote, what you can do is talk to your friends who do about why their vote is important, not only for the country and your community, but also for you.

If you still have any questions, it’s important to visit the California Secretary of State’s website, the state agency in charge of elections. On their website, you’ll find the Official Voter Information Guide for the 2025 state special election.

And visit the UC Votes online center to find more useful information and inspiration for the upcoming elections.

So now you know, participate with your vote and make your voice heard.

This report is part of our series “Hacia el voto 2025”