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!
- 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.
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:
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