You may register at any time, but to be eligible to vote in an upcoming election, your Voter Registration Form must be submitted online by midnight no later than 15 days before that election. If you are mailing a Voter Registration Form, it must be postmarked no later than 15 days before that election.
If you miss the 15 day deadline to register to vote, you can
register conditionally at any Vote Center in the County of Sacramento. Please check election-specific information for locations and dates. Conditional voters fill out a provisional ballot that is counted once their eligibility is confirmed.
Voter Qualifications
You may register to vote if you meet all of the following requirements:
Citizen of the United States
Resident of California
At least 18 years of age on or before Election Day
Not in prison for the conviction of a felony*
Not prohibited from voting by a court because of mental incompetency
Once your registration form is received and processed, we will send you a Voter Notification Card within four to six weeks indicating that you are now a registered voter. You can also check your eligibility online. If you are unsure about your voting status, please call the County of Sacramento Voter Registration and Elections Department at (916) 875-6451.
16 and 17-year olds can pre-register to vote if they meet all of the following requirements:
Citizen of the United States
Resident of California
Not in prison for the conviction of a felony
Not prohibited from voting by a court because of mental incompetency
Applicants will be sent confirmation when their voter pre-registration application is processed, or they will be contacted if more information is needed to confirm their eligibility.
Register to Vote Online
You may register to vote or change your registration information online. You will be redirected to the Secretary of State's website where you will be asked to enter your personal information and provide your driver's license number and the last four digits of your Social Security number.
The Secretary of State's website is also for voters who want to update their registration information with a new address, new name, party change, Permanent Vote by Mail status or other information. Re-registering using the website will not create a duplicate record.
Note: Please make sure all fields are entered accurately. Allow 48 hours or more for applications to process.
Register to Vote via the Mail
You may register by mailing a completed Voter Registration Form to the County of Sacramento Voter Registration and Elections Department.
Forms are available in person at public libraries, city and county offices, California Department of Motor Vehicles offices and at U.S. Post Offices. You may also call our office at (916) 875-6451 and we will mail a form to you within one business day.
To pick up a Voter Registration Form in person, look at our index below for a location near you.
Military and Overseas Voters
County of Sacramento Voters who meet the criteria below may register and apply for a ballot by completing a Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) form.
Members of the Uniformed Services or Merchant Marine on active duty
Spouses or dependents of a member of the Uniformed Services of Merchant Marine on active duty
Commissioned Corps of the Public Health or the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
US citizens living abroad with an intent to return
US citizens living abroad with no intent to return
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Re-register to Vote
You must
re-register to vote if you:
To find out more information about a political party, visit the Secretary of State's website.
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*Voting with a Criminal Conviction
If you have a misdemeanor conviction, you can always vote.
If you have a felony conviction, you can vote if:
- You are on probation OR
- You are on post-release community supervison OR
- You are on mandatory supervision OR
- You are serving a county jail sentence under Realignment OR
- You are on parole.
