As the General Election approaches, here’s what you need to know

Secretary of State of California Shirley Weber says her grandfather never had the right to vote in the Jim Crow South – and voting is a right she doesn’t take lightly.

“This is your voice,” said Weber, who is California’s first Black Secretary of State. “This is your opportunity to have some self-determination. It’s a privilege to be able to register and vote.”

Butte County Clerk-Recorder Keaton Denlay notes that voting is especially important in local elections. “Margins can be very, very small,” in a local election, Denlay said. “Every single vote matters, and we’re here to count them all, and we want to make sure the voters’ voices are being heard.

“So please get your vote back to us.”

Below, find resources on how you can use your right to vote: how to register, where to cast your ballot, and why your ballot might look different from your friend’s.

Registering to vote

The last day to register to vote is Monday, Oct. 19. If you haven’t registered by then, you can still vote in person on election day with a provisional ballot. Your vote is counted with the provisional ballots after your eligibility is verified.

How to register

Voters must be U.S. citizens, at least 18 years old on election day and meet California’s other eligibility requirements. Voters should register with their place of residence, which determines their precincts. Voters experiencing homelessness may register by describing a location where they spend most of their time. They must also provide a mailing address, such as a shelter, post office box or church. 

When registering to vote, voters should provide either their driver’s license number, California identification card number or the last four digits of their Social Security number, along with their birthdate. If a voter does not have any of these ID numbers, the voter may leave this space blank and would then be assigned a number that serves as their voter ID. 

You can register to vote online on registertovote.ca.gov through the end of the day Oct. 19. You can also register to vote in-person with a provisional ballot at any of the voter assistance locations through the Nov. 3 election day.

Voting by mail

The mail-in voting process has not changed in spite of challenges to the system, Weber said at a recent American Community Media briefing.

Your mail-in ballot must be postmarked on or before election day. Mail from Chico travels to Sacramento before getting postmarked, which can add a day or two. So if you are submitting your mail-in ballot at the last minute, ask the clerk at the post office counter to apply a postmark, use an official ballot drop box or drop it off in-person. 

“I wouldn’t be putting it in one of those blue boxes with the eagle on the side of it on those last couple days, because you’re taking unnecessary risk at that point,” Denlay said, referring to USPS mailboxes.

Voting early

Voting early helps increase turnout and minimizes last-minute complications, say election officials.

The Secretary of State web page encourages voters to not only vote early, but to track their ballot. Voters can subscribe to notifications about their ballot or “check it just like you would track an Amazon package,” Denlay said.

What’s on your ballot: Why some ballots don’t have city council candidates

Voters will be sent ballots based on the city council districts and school district areas where they reside. Only some voting districts and areas have races. “It can be challenging for voters because they’re seeing the candidate signs around town and then they’re not on their ballot,” Denlay said.

The Chico City Council voting districts can be viewed here. The Chico Unified School District trustee areas can be viewed on this map. The Butte County Clerk-Recorder has a voter guide with information in both English and Spanish here.

Where to vote

There are 13 ballot drop boxes now available. There are no longer drop boxes at the Chico and Oroville libraries. The Chico library box has been relocated to Mangrove Plaza, and the Oroville library box has been relocated to the Raley’s parking lot in Currier Square. 

Three voting assistance centers open Oct. 24, where you can drop off your ballot, get a replacement ballot, vote in person, register to vote by provisional ballot or seek assistance. Five additional voting assistance locations open in Chico on Halloween. 

For the full list of voting sites, see the last two pages of the Countywide Voter Information Guide. Find a list of ballot boxes at the end of this article and a list of voting assistance centers here.

Voters have options in terms of which location makes them the most comfortable. “It’s always better to make a plan and vote early,” Denlay said. “I would encourage voters to do that, whether they’re more comfortable voting by mail or using a ballot drop box or doing so in person.”

Intimidation and safety

For naturalized citizens who might be concerned about voting because of rumored immigration activity, Weber suggests voting at ballot boxes. “I would suggest to anyone who has any kind of fear at all that you vote at our ballot boxes, those huge monstrous boxes that we have that are made of steel, that you go there and vote. Because it’s not likely that you’re going to find ICE at a place like that,” Weber said.

“They’re more secure than our post office in many ways,” Weber said. If you’re eligible to vote, “do not let anyone keep you from voting,” she adds.

Helplines

For questions about the voting process or for a replacement ballot, call the Butte County Registrar of Voters at (530) 552-3400, and select option one to speak with the elections division. 

If you need to report illegal or fraudulent election activity, call the Secretary of State office at (800) 345 VOTE, or 8683.

Secure Ballot Drop Box Locations, open now until 8 p.m. on Election Day (subject to change):

Secretary of State Weber says her grandparents died before the passage of the Voting Rights Act in 1965. “My grandparents never got a chance to vote in the United States and they were here for a couple of hundred years,” she said. “I push hard on those who choose not to participate. We need to have folks in office who are going to fight for our rights.

“This is a very important election.”

Katherine Kihiczak is a California Local News fellow reporting for ChicoSol. Editor Leslie Layton contributed.