The 2024 United States presidential election has entered its final countdown phase. This year’s election is crucial, including the presidential election and multiple California ballot measures that impact social security and the economy.
So, how should California voters cast their ballots? How can they ensure their votes are ultimately counted? Below are important dates and information related to the election for voters to reference.
Starting immediately, California registered voters will gradually receive mail-in ballots, and some voters have already completed voting.
Voters choosing to use mail-in ballots this year must fill out their ballots, sign them, and mail them back on or before November 5th. Mail-in ballots do not require postage stamps, but voters must ensure that the signature on the ballot matches the one at the time of voter registration. If the deadline on November 5th is missed, the ballot will be invalidated.
Voters can also vote in person at polling stations: starting from October 26th, early voting stations throughout California will progressively open; on election day, November 5th, voters can also vote at various polling stations from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
– October 7th (29 days before the election): County election offices in California begin mailing out mail-in ballots, early voting begins.
– October 8th (28 days before the election): Opening of mail-in ballot drop boxes, which will remain open until November 5th.
– October 21st: Legal voting citizens must register as voters by October 21st to ensure timely receipt of ballots.
– November 5th: Election day. Polling stations will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., and all ballot drop boxes will close at 8 p.m.
Counties will also open some early voting stations with varying opening times. Before heading to a voting center, voters should first check the location and opening hours, please refer to the Secretary of State’s website.
To ensure that votes are counted promptly, many organizations are urging voters not to wait and to start voting immediately.
If deciding to vote by mail-in ballot, after completing the ballot, voters should place it in the provided envelope, ensure all necessary information is filled out on the envelope, and sign it. Voters can mail in their ballots in the following ways:
– Mail the ballot back to the county election office: Postmark date applies. Voters must send out their ballots on or before the election day and ensure they are delivered to the county election office within 7 days after the election day to be considered valid.
– Drop the mail-in ballot at a ballot drop box; the deadline for sending out ballots is 8 p.m. on November 5th, election day.
– Personally deliver the ballot to a voting center (or fill out the ballot directly on-site). The deadline is also 8 p.m. on election day.
In this year’s election, California voters will not only choose the U.S. president, but also decide on 10 state ballot measures (State Propositions) and elect one California federal senator. The aforementioned positions and ballot measures are not district-specific, and all eligible voters residing in California can cast their votes. However, for each position, voters can only choose one candidate; picking more will result in the vote being considered invalid.
Additionally, voters will also need to vote for congressional representatives, state senators, state assembly members, county judges, and city officials in their respective districts, with specific candidates based on the voter’s registered address. Similarly, voters can choose only one candidate for each position.
This year’s 10 state ballot measures in California include three state constitutional amendment proposals, two bond measures, as well as topics like minimum wage, rent control, and increasing penalties for drug and theft repeat offenders.
In the past, many voters have made improper judgments due to a lack of understanding of ballot measures or being misled by the language used. Therefore, many organizations are urging voters to be vigilant when casting their votes.
These organizations point out that some ballot measures may appear on the ballot with appealing titles like “restoring public school facilities, maintaining California equality and justice, protecting drinking water, preventing wildfires, creating more affordable housing for families,” but in reality, may be indirectly taxing voters, compensating Black individuals, or amending constitutional provisions that protect voting rights; voters are encouraged to be well-informed in advance.