What do you mean you haven’t voted yet? Damn, you’d better get moving. Never fear, we’re here to help.

Here’s our 2018: Printable cheat sheet, links to assorted voter guides, and your questions answered about where, when and how to vote.

Here’s a list of online voter guides and endorsements 

San Diego County Democratic Party
San Diego County Republican Party (I’m assuming you’re curious about who NOT to vote for) 
Courage Campaign has a chart listing 10 liberal/progressive/labor organizations with positions on the 11 State Ballot Propositions. 
CALmatters has an interactive site covering the California State Propositions
Voice of San Diego –podcast explaining state ballot propositions, plus a guide to local measures.
San Diego Union-Tribune
San Diego Indivisible Downtown Midterm Voter Guide
Defending Our Future: Indivisible in CA 52nd District -spreadsheet comparing endorsements by local publications and organizations.
San Diego City Beat
San Diego and Imperial Counties Labor Council
San Diego Democratic Socialists of America

The San Diego Free Press General Election Progressive Voter Guide, the long version, featuring websites, social media links plus more than three dozen candidate endorsements, along with yea or nay on 23 state, county, and city propositions. Don’t vote without it.

Also, for those of you with burning questions about the judges on your ballots: An Explainer on Electing Judges in California, including suggestions.

Assorted Voting Information & Frequently Asked Questions

Check Your Voter Registration Status
Registered voters can check their voter registration status and voter preferences using the “My Voter Status” tool at VoterStatus.sos.ca.gov

Find Your Polling Place on Election Day

• The Sample Ballot and Voter Information Pamphlet you received in the mail from the County of San Diego Registrar of Voters has the polling place info on the back page.
  
• County of San Diego Registrar of Voters site here includes polling place locations and other general info. 
• You can enter your zip code and address at the League of Women Voters site here and receive polling place info.
• California Secretary of State site here
• You can call the Central Library at 619-236-5800 or call or visit your local library

Early Voting Locations
Any registered voter can visit their county elections office in person to drop off their vote-by-mail ballot or request to vote a vote-by-mail ballot on or before Election Day. The list for San Diego County is here.

To find early voting or ballot drop-off locations in other counties visit CaEarlyVoting.sos.ca.gov

Voters with Disabilities
County Voter Information Guides describe how persons with disabilities can vote privately and independently. For more information, visit: https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voting-resources/voters-disabilities/

When are polls open?
Polls are open on election day Tuesday, November 6, 2018 from 7am to 8pm.  If you are in the line at the polling place prior to 8pm, you have the right to vote.

Can I vote at any location in the county? Yes, you can, but there are reasons not to.

• Ballots are not the same throughout the county. If you go to a precinct other than the one you are assigned, only the votes for the candidates and measures on which you were entitled to vote in your assigned precinct will be counted.
• Your ballot will be handled as a provisional ballot.  (Provisional ballots are counted.)
• You cannot cast your ballot in a different county.

Do I need a State ID to Vote?

• If you have voted before and your name is on the roster of voters, no. (Ed. note: You will be asked your name and address; the poll worker will repeat each back to you.  Then you sign the roster of voters list. That’s it.)
• I this is your first time voting and you are registered by mail without giving your California driver’s license or state identification number or the last four digits of your social security number, then you may need to show photo identification (e. g. valid driver’s license or state ID) or a paycheck, utility bill, or government document that shows your name and address.
• To be safe, take a photo ID with you to the polls.
• If the poll workers check the roster and cannot locate your name they will assist you to try to find your correct polling location. If you believe you are registered to vote and want to vote at the polling location where you are, you are entitled to a provisional ballot.

On Probation or Parole? You can vote in California

• A misdemeanor conviction does not affect your right to vote. You can vote in all elections.
• If you are on probation or if you have completed your parole, post-release community supervision, or mandatory supervision you CAN vote!  (ACLU has more information on this topic here.)

I haven’t mailed my ballot, what do I do?

• Vote by mail ballots must be received by the county elections office by the time polls close at 8pm on Election Day or your return envelope must be postmarked on or before Election Day and received by the Registrar of Voters no later than the Friday after Election Day.  
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• You can return your completed ballot by mail in person to any polling place in the County of San Diego or the Registrar’s Office at 5201 Ruffin Road, Suite I San Diego on election day.
• You can drop off ballots at collection sites throughout the county.
  

Regardless of how the ballot is returned, it MUST be received by the county elections office by the time polls close at 8pm on Tuesday November 8.

Can I take time off work to vote?

State law allows voters to take 2 hours off work to vote, without the loss of pay, at an agreed upon time at the beginning or end of the work shift. Click here for more information on time off work to vote.

I forgot to register. Can I still vote?

NEW! YES you can! There are new rules.

Conditional Voter Registration is a new safety net for Californians who missed the October 22 deadline to register to vote or update their voter registration information for the November 6, 2018, General Election. While you may ot be able to vote at your regular polling place or vote by mail, there is still an opportunity to cast a ballot by completing the conditional voter registration process.

Eligible citizens who missed the October 22 deadline can go to their county elections office or a designated satellite location to register and vote conditionally. Their ballots will be processed once the county elections office has completed the voter registration verification process. Voters can complete the conditional voter registration process from October 23 all the way through Election Day on November 6.

Have additional questions about your local conditional voter registration locations? Contact your county elections office.

Ballot Selfies are now legal. Taking pictures of other people’s ballots is not.