Voter Registration FAQs:
• Who can register to vote in Marin County?
• How do I register to vote?
• Where do I get a voter registration card?
• What information do I need to put on the card?
• What if I forget to put all of the required information on the registration card?
• When can I register to vote?
• How do I get my voting rights back when I am out of prison or off parole for the conviction of a felony?
• How do I know that I am registered to vote?
• What happens when I register to vote?
• What happens if there is a problem with matching my ID information?
• What if I move or change my mailing address?
• Do you ever take my name off the voter registration list?
• What happens if I do not notify the Elections Department if I have moved?
Who can register to vote in Marin County?
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Persons who meet all of the following requirements are eligible to register to vote:
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• United States Citizen, and,
• Resident of the California, and,
• 18 years of age or older, and,
• Not in prison or on parole for the conviction of a felony.
How do I register to vote?
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You must fill out a voter registration form and be sure to sign it and mail it in or turn it in to the County Elections Office.
Where do I get a voter registration card?
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Download a voter registration form from this web site, fill it out, sign it, and mail it to the Elections Department.
Call for a form or pick it up at the Marin County Elections Department, Marin Civic Center, 3501 Civic Center Drive, Room 121, San Rafael, CA, 94903, (415) 499-6456.
You can also find voter registration forms at:
• Libraries,
• Post offices,
• DMV offices.
What information do I need to put on the card?
| REQUIRED INFORMATION |
| Signature – will be used to check petitions and your vote by mail ballot |
| Mailing address if different |
| Birth place |
| Birth date |
| Party affiliation (if you do not choose a party, you will be registered as “decline to state” (non-partisan). |
| California drivers’ license number or California Identification Number – both available at the Dept. of Motor Vehicles, or, if you do not have a drivers’ license number, the last four (4) digits of your Social Security number. |
| OPTIONAL INFORMATION |
| Language preference |
| Previous address where registered |
| Telephone number or e-mail address |
What if I forget to put all of the required information on the registration card?
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We will send you a notice about the required missing information and ask you to provide it. After you provide the required information, you will be registered to vote.
When can I register to vote?
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You can register to vote any time, but if you want to vote in an election, your voter registration must be received by the Elections Department or postmarked by 15 days before that election. You should register as early as possible so that you receive your sample ballot in the mail. If you register later than 29 days before an election, you may not receive this information.
How do I get my voting rights back when I am out of prison or off parole for the conviction of a felony?
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Under the California Election Laws, you must re-register to vote.
How do I know that I am registered to vote?
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After you register to vote, you should receive a post card informing you that you are registered. If you do not receive a card within 4-5 weeks after you have registered, call our office at (415) 499-6456.
What happens when I register to vote?
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When we receive your voter registration card, we enter the information, including the image of your signature into the voter file. Then your registration is sent to the Secretary of State’s Statewide Database, which compares it against the DMV or Social Security records to verify the information. If your information is verified, the State notifies us that you are eligible to vote.
What happens if there is a problem with matching my ID information?
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If there is a problem with your ID information, the Secretary of State will let us know and you will be given a chance to correct your information. In 4-5 weeks, you should receive a card that confirms that you are registered to vote. If your information has not been verified in time for Election Day, you can cast a provisional ballot when you go to the polls.
What if I move or change my mailing address?
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Whenever you move to a new residence address or change your mailing address, notify the Elections Department in writing of the change immediately. Election mail cannot be forwarded.
Do you ever take my name off the voter registration list?
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Yes, but only when the post office notifies us that you have moved out of the county. Also, voters who do not vote in two consecutive General Elections (which take place in even numbered years) will receive a notice that their names will be removed from the voter file unless they reply to the notice.
What happens if I do not notify the Elections Department if I have moved?
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If you do not notify the Elections Department when you change your residence or mailing address, you will not receive your election mail (ballots and sample ballots) and your name may not be in the Roster at your new polling place, so you will have to vote a provisional ballot.
For more information, call the Registrar of Voters at (415) 473-6456.
