Caltech Votes!

Mission

We are dedicated to registering members of the Caltech community to vote, assisting them in obtaining Vote-by-Mail Ballots, and encouraging voter turnout. Please contact us with any questions.

Voting Options for College Students

As a Californian living away from home while attending a college, trade school or technical school, you may choose to register to vote using your home away from home address you use while at school or your traditional home address.

Choosing which address to use when you register to vote is a personal decision. Whatever you decide, you may not register to vote in two places during the same election cycle.

No two states run their elections exactly the same. If you choose to vote in a different state than California, you can find your state’s unique election rules here. All further information on this site is specific to California voting.

Can I register to vote?

To register to vote in California, you must be:

• A United States citizen.
• A California resident.
• 18 years old or older on Election Day.
• Not currently in state or federal prison or on parole for the conviction of a felony.
• Not currently found mentally incompetent to vote by a court.

If you have any questions, you can contact the Secretary of State's Elections Division at (800) 345-8683 or by email.

When are voter registration deadlines in California?

Your voter registration must be submitted electronically or postmarked no later than 15 days before the election in which you wish to vote.

How do I register to vote?

In California, to register to vote you must complete a brief voter registration application on paper or online.

How do I request a Vote-by-Mail Ballot (formerly referred to as an Absentee Ballot) in California?

A Vote-By-Mail Ballot is a paper ballot, with the same candidates and measures on it as you would receive at your polling place on Election Day. Any California registered voter may ask to vote using a Vote-by-Mail Ballot. You do not have to be "absent" or "out of town on election day”.

You may request either a Vote-by-Mail Ballot for each election or a permanent Vote-by-Mail voter status.

Once received, you should follow the included instructions on your Vote-By-Mail Ballot for marking your votes and returning your ballot. (DON’T FORGET TO SIGN YOUR NAME ON THE RETURN ENVELOPE.)

Vote-By-Mail Ballots that are returned by mail must be postmarked on or before Election Day and received by your county elections office no later than 3 days after Election Day.

What if I want to know more about voting?

Find out where to vote, what’s on your ballot, and more using California Secretary of State’s Voter Information Tool