Every Vote Counts Campaign

The ACLU of Northern California launched this Know Your Rights public education campaign in collaboration with All of Us or None, a project of Legal Services for Prisoners with Children. Members of All of Us or None are featured on the bus shelters and billboard advertisements located in San Francisco and Oakland, as well as posters and palm cards distributed throughout Northern California.

Click here for more information on the ACLU of Northern California's voting rights work.

On Probation? Off Parole? YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO VOTE.

There is a lot of confusion in California about the impact of a criminal conviction on voting rights. To set the record straight, some criminal convictions have no impact on your voting rights at all. Other kinds of convictions may temporarily take away your right to vote.

Voting Rights With a Misdemeanor

• A misdemeanor conviction does not affect your right to vote at all. You can vote at all times.

Voting Rights With a Felony

• Even if you have a felony conviction, you can vote if:
  • you are on probation, or
  • you have completed your probation, or
  • you have completed parole.
    
    
• The only time you are not allowed to vote is if you have a felony conviction and you are still in prison or on parole. Once you have completed your prison sentence and parole, you can register to vote.

Register to Vote Today!

You must register to vote at least 15 days before an election. But, the sooner the better. Register early! Register Today!

How to Register to Vote

There are a number of ways you can register to vote:

• Pick up a registration form at the DMV, post office, or your local county elections office.Complete the form, sign it, and mail it to your county elections office.
  
  
• Download a registration form from the Internet and mail the completed form to your county elections office. Be sure to sign and date your form!
  • Voter registration form in English
  • Voter registration form in Spanish
    
    
• Register online with the Secretary of State. Once you complete the online form, it will be mailed to you to sign and mail back. If you use the online registration form, register at least one month before the election to allow time for mailing the form back and forth.
  • Online voter registration form in English
  • Online voter registration form in Spanish

Re-register to vote if you move or change your name.

Find Your Polling Place

Once you are registered to vote, you can vote at your local polling place on Election Day. Your polling place should be listed on the sample ballot you receive in the mail once you are registered to vote.

You can also call your county elections office to find out where you vote.

More Information

Call the California Secretary of State 1-800-345-VOTE (English), 1-800-232-VOTA (Spanish) or visit their voter education Web site at http://www.ss.ca.gov/elections/voter_ed.htm.

LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD. REGISTER TO VOTE TODAY.

Spread the Word

Use these images on your Blog or Web site to spread the word about the Every Vote Counts Campaign. Click an image to view and download: