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Yes, you can... vote for President!

Registered as "Decline-To-State"? You can vote in the Democratic presidential primary!

Are you registered as a "Decline-To-State" voter in California? Did you know that you have the right to vote in the Democratic Party presidential primary?

You just need to ask for a "Democratic Party ballot."

Yes, it's that simple. Watch this funny YouTube video to see how easy it is.

To vote for your favorite Democratic presidential candidate, all you need to do is ask a poll worker at your polling place for a "Democratic Party ballot."

Have more questions?

To ensure that you know how to exercise your right to vote in California's Democratic Party presidential primary, we are providing answers to some frequently asked questions posed by "Decline-To-State" (DTS) voters just like you below. Information on DTS voting can also be found on the California Secretary of State's web site:

http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/elections_decline.htm

Q: I am a "Decline-To-State" voter and I am planning on voting in-person at my polling place on Tuesday, February 5. What do I need to do to vote for president in the Democratic primary?

A: When you walk into your polling location, ask for a "Democratic Party ballot" after the polling place worker asks you for your name. If you are handed a ballot that does not include presidential candidates, just hand the ballot back to the poll worker and ask for a "Democratic Party ballot" instead.

Q: What if the poll worker says I am not allowed to have a "Democratic Party ballot"?

A: Some poll workers may not be aware of the law. Be firm. If the polling place worker is not aware of your right to vote for a Democratic presidential candidate, explain that the California Democratic Party allows voters registered as "Decline-To-State" to vote in the Democratic primary.

If the poll worker continues to insist that you can only have the "Decline-To-State" ballot, then request a "provisional" ballot. Your provisional ballot will not be counted until the county elections official can determine its validity.

Q: If I vote-by-mail, when is the last day that I can request a Democratic Party ballot?

A: Unfortunately, the deadline has passed (it was Tuesday, January 29). But you can bring your ballot to a polling place on Election Day. See the answer to the next question.

Q: Can I bring my vote-by-mail ballot to a polling place on Election Day and exchange it for a Democratic Party ballot?

A: Yes. You can bring your vote-by-mail ballot to a polling place (in the county in which you are registered) and give it to a polling place worker in exchange for a Democratic Party ballot. The poll worker will destroy your  vote-by-mail ballot and give you a new Democratic Party ballot.

If, for any reason, a poll worker refuses to exchange your ballot, you may request to cast a "provisional" ballot which will not be counted until the county elections official can determine that you have not also voted a vote-by-mail ballot.
 
To find a polling place in your county, scroll down this page to find the phone number for your county registrar and their office hours.

Q: If I already requested a Democratic Party ballot by mail, when should I mail my Democratic Party ballot to the county registrar?

For your vote to count, it must be received by the county registrar or delivered directly to any polling place -- in the county where you are registered -- no later than 8 p.m. on Election Day: Tuesday, February 5. 

Ballots that are received after 8 p.m. on Tuesday, February 5, will NOT be counted. If you choose to wait until the last minute to mail in your ballot, it is recommended that you mail it no later than Thursday, January 31 to ensure that it arrives at the county registrar by 8 p.m. on Election Day: Tuesday, February 5.

Q: I am a "Decline-To-State" voter who votes by mail. But I already mailed in my DTS ballot to the county registrar and didn't get a chance to vote for president in the Democratic primary.  What do I do?

A: Unfortunately, there is nothing you can do. The registrars cannot destroy your ballot and issue you a new one. But, if your friends and family are DTS voters as well, make sure they know about their right to vote for president in the Democratic primary.

Q: I think I am registered as "Decline-To-State," but I am just not sure.  How do I check?

A: Give your county registrar a call. See the list below. Your registrar can look you up in their computer system. It takes just a few minutes.

Q: I have some friends and/or family members who are registered Decline-To-State. What do I need to do to make sure they know what to do?

A: Forward them the link to this web page:

http://www.couragecampaign.org/vote

Or just copy and paste the information into an email. It doesn't hurt to double-check that your friends and family are ready to vote.

Q: What is the Courage Campaign?

A: We are a California-based progressive online organization that empowers people just like you to plug-in to politics and turn out to vote. If you would like to receive messages about presidential politics and California issues from the Courage Campaign in the future, you can sign up now at:

http://www.couragecampaign.org/signup

Q: Where can I find more information about voting?

A: Go to the Secretary of State's web site:

http://www.sos.ca.gov/

Q: How do I contact my county registrar of voters?
 

A: See the list of county registrars below, listed alphabetically: