The deadline to register to vote ahead of the special election and the June primary election is approaching quickly — it’s May 18!
In Butte, Glenn and Tehama counties, would-be voters, or voters who want to update their registration, can report to their local elections office or, perhaps, register online. (See links and addresses below.)
North State residents who favor the Democratic Party will need to produce a strong turnout, said David Welch, recording secretary for the Butte Democratic Party. A good turnout will ensure that a strong Democrat runs in November to represent congressional District 1, he points out.
The Butte Republican Party posted a plea for voters to register and vote in both the primary and special elections on its Facebook page and its Web page here. ChicoSol reached the party chair, Teri DuBose for additional comment and was still waiting to hear at press time.
Who can vote?
U.S. citizens living in California who are 18 years old or older, and who are not either in prison or deemed mentally incompetent, can register to vote in the upcoming June elections.
Online registration is possible if you can provide either a California driver license or California identification number, the last four digits of your Social Security number, and your date of birth. Applicants without either DMV identifications can still apply to vote, but will be asked to take additional steps to complete voter registration.
Provisional ballots are allowed on election day, but meeting the May 18 deadline ensures that your vote will be counted on time for federal, state and county positions. Early voting will begin on May 4, the same day that vote-by-mail ballots are sent.
The state registration page has information in several languages other than English, including Spanish. Voters can check their registration status at My Voter Status.
County and state election officials must mail voter information guides to all registered voters between April 23 and May 12. Other voter guides are available, including this one from CalMatters.
Help in Butte County is available
The Butte County Clerk-Recorder/Registrar of Voters office, open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays, is located at 155 Nelson Ave. in Oroville. Telephone numbers are (530) 552-3400, option 1, and (800) 894-7761 (domestic).
Beginning Oct. 25, Butte County will open Voter Assistance Centers (VACs) in Chico, Oroville, Gridley and Paradise.
In the leadup to the election, Butte County Democrats will continue to help citizens register to vote at Thursday and Saturday markets and on the Chico State University campus, Welch said.
In Tehama County
The Tehama County Elections Department will help you register at 633 Washington St., Room 17, in Red Bluff. The office is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays but closed for lunch between 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. until May 4. (After May 4 there will be no lunch break at the office, a cheerful staffer told ChicoSol.)
You can also call them at (530) 527-8190 to request a voter registration card be mailed to you.
Voter registration cards are available at all public assistance centers, including the Tehama County Social Services, Tehama County Health Services Agency, and Northern Valley Catholic Social Services.
In Glenn County
The Glenn County Elections Office, open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays, is located at 516 W. Sycamore St. 2nd Floor, Willows. Call them at (530) 934-6414.
Voter registration cards are also available at the post office and at the Health & Human Services Agency — Lindajoy Fenley & Leslie Layton.