📖 FREE: Get your free copy of the KPBS Voter Hub e-book to read all our explainers offline.
KPBS Voter Hub
KPBS' Voter Hub and Guía Electoral (en español) aims to help voters get information on all the races and measures on the ballot.
We have explainers, an interactive virtual ballot guide, resources on how to vote and where, and of course, all the latest news.
What questions do you have about participating in the upcoming election?
_
KPBS, in collaboration with America Amplified, will utilize generative AI to address some audience and community questions. The GAI tool will assist in drafting responses by gathering verified information from state election offices. Responses will undergo editing, revision and verification by American Amplified and people in the newsroom.
Try the KPBS 2024 Ballot Guide
We teamed up with Ballot Ready to offer in-depth information about what's on your ballot with this interactive guide!
- Use your address to get a personalized ballot
- Get info on candidates, measures, and who supports them
- Keep track of your choices and use them to vote
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Voters across the country are gearing up as the 2024 general election approaches. This election cycle will determine key leadership positions, with the presidency at the top of the list featuring a showdown between former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris. Multiple congressional seats are also up for grabs, as well as many state and local offices.
Locally, voters across San Diego County will decide on various sales tax measures, from Chula Vista to Escondido. There are also several statewide proposals, including measures on rent control and raising the minimum wage.
Locally, voters across San Diego County will decide on various sales tax measures, from Chula Vista to Escondido. There are also several statewide proposals, including measures on rent control and raising the minimum wage.
You can register to vote or check your registration status online on the California Online Voter Registration page. In California, the last day to register to vote for any election is 15 days before election day. The last day to register to vote for the November's General Election is Oct. 21, 2024.
The San Diego County Registrar of Voters also provides opportunities to register to vote or obtain information in person at events throughout the county. You can check their community calendar for more information on events here.
Same day voter registration is also possible. If you miss the deadline to register to vote you can still vote until election day. You can learn more here.
The San Diego County Registrar of Voters also provides opportunities to register to vote or obtain information in person at events throughout the county. You can check their community calendar for more information on events here.
Same day voter registration is also possible. If you miss the deadline to register to vote you can still vote until election day. You can learn more here.
The voter registration application asks for your driver license or California identification card number. If you don't have that, you can register to vote using the last four digits of your Social Security number. If you don't remember your Social Security number or don't have one, you can leave that part blank, and the Registrar of Voters will issue a number identifying you as a voter.
All California active registered voters are sent a vote-by-mail ballot roughly a month before an election. That allows local election offices time for thorough verification processes, such as signature matching and accuracy testing. This extended timeframe also accommodates people who don't have time to make it to a Vote Center in advance or on Election Day, providing ample opportunity to cast their ballots. Californians have had the option to vote by mail since 1979, and instances of voter fraud, including with mail-in ballots, are exceedingly rare due to stringent safety protocols. Mail-in ballots are only provided to registered Californians, and there are robust measures in place to prevent forgery, theft and fraudulent activity. In 2012 65.15% of ballots cast were mail-in ballots — 10 years later that number was 91.24%.
Find more facts about the elections process on the California Secretary of State website and on the San Diego Registrar of Voters website.
Find more facts about the elections process on the California Secretary of State website and on the San Diego Registrar of Voters website.
Voters may vote and return either ballot. Destroy the unused ballot. If the voter uses the suspended ballot the system will automatically set aside that ballot envelope. That ballot will be counted if and only if that is the only ballot returned by the voter.
"Voters are encouraged to call our office to let us know. Replacement mail ballots are typically sent when a voter moves within the county to a new residence address after the initial mailing was sent," said a San Diego Registrar of Voters representative via email.
"Voters are encouraged to call our office to let us know. Replacement mail ballots are typically sent when a voter moves within the county to a new residence address after the initial mailing was sent," said a San Diego Registrar of Voters representative via email.
Ballots in California are available in several languages other than English.
When registering to vote, you can select from the following: Spanish, Chinese, Japanese, Khmer, Korean, Tagalog, Thai or Vietnamese. You can fill out an application online at the Secretary of State's website.
The Voting Rights Act, enacted in 1965, requires the Registrar of Voters to provide language assistance in Spanish, Filipino, Vietnamese and Chinese. To receive voting materials in these languages you can fill out an application.
For people that speak Arabic, Japanese, Korean, Somali, Persian or Laotian, you can request a reference ballot called a "facsimile ballot." It's a copy of the ballot translated into these languages. You can use that copy to mark your choices on an official ballot.
To request a reference ballot ...
When registering to vote, you can select from the following: Spanish, Chinese, Japanese, Khmer, Korean, Tagalog, Thai or Vietnamese. You can fill out an application online at the Secretary of State's website.
The Voting Rights Act, enacted in 1965, requires the Registrar of Voters to provide language assistance in Spanish, Filipino, Vietnamese and Chinese. To receive voting materials in these languages you can fill out an application.
For people that speak Arabic, Japanese, Korean, Somali, Persian or Laotian, you can request a reference ballot called a "facsimile ballot." It's a copy of the ballot translated into these languages. You can use that copy to mark your choices on an official ballot.
To request a reference ballot ...
- Call (800) 696-0136 (toll free), (858) 565-5800 or email rovmail@sdcounty.ca.gov.
- Ask a poll worker at a vote center for a reference ballot. If you need help marking your ballot, you may bring someone with you to the poll to assist you.
Pre-registration is available to eligible 16 and 17 year olds. Once a voter turns 18, their voter registration will automatically become active. However, you must be a U.S. citizen in order to pre-register or register.
Political consultant Tom Shepard said campaigns use databases informed by voter rolls from the Registrar of Voters to target those who haven't voted yet with mailers, texts and phone calls.
That means, voting early can help! Campaigns track voter rolls every 24 to 36 hours, and once your ballot is cast, the mail stops. Plus, early voting means avoiding long lines and ensures your vote counts on time.
That means, voting early can help! Campaigns track voter rolls every 24 to 36 hours, and once your ballot is cast, the mail stops. Plus, early voting means avoiding long lines and ensures your vote counts on time.
Important dates
Oct. 5County elections offices will begin mailing ballotsOct. 21The last day to register to vote for the Nov. 5 General Election- Oct. 26 - Nov. 5 Vote centers open for early in-person voting in all Voter’s Choice Act counties
- Nov. 5 Election Day: Vote-by-mail ballots must be postmarked on or before this date
Source: San Diego Registrar of Voters
You are part of something bigger. A neighborhood, a community, a county, a state, a country. All of these places are made stronger when we engage with each other in conversation and participate in local decision-making. But where and how to start? Introducing Public Matters.
Election 2024 Mini Newsletter
Sign up to receive a quick series of election emails to help you get ready to fill out your ballot, featuring bite-size explainers, voting resources and more.
Key voting information
How to vote if ...
Watch
US House District 25: Key issues and candidates
Measure G: San Diego County sales tax explainer
San Diego Unified School District Board races
Measure E: City of San Diego sales tax explainer
San Diego Mayor: Key issues and candidates
San Diego City Attorney: Key issues and candidates
San Diego County Board of Supervisors District 3: Key issues and candidates
State Assembly District 75: Key issues and candidates
State Assembly District 79: Key issues and candidates
US House District 49: Key issues and candidates
Latest news
Matthew Pearson
/
WABE
In a state decided recently by tiny margins, subtle shifts among any demographic can matter. These five groups could be key in determining who wins Georgia — and possibly the presidency.
Andrea Ellen Reed for NPR
-
The race for the White House is in full force. -
Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump have both appealed to workers in this year's election. But the candidates’ stances on many issues affecting workers remain far apart. -
The campaigns crisscrossed Michigan and Wisconsin. Trump tried to woo Arab Americans and zeroed in on Friday's jobs data as Harris criticized the GOP nominee for violent comments about Liz Cheney.
The following community organizations have helped distribute KPBS election content and resources throughout San Diego County.
