Vote

Register to Vote

Getting involved in the democratic process starts with registering to vote. Each state has different laws and guidelines, but you can always start and learn more by visiting the resources below.

California college students, participate in the California University and College Ballot Bowl to help your college win:

• Register to vote — California Ballot Bowl
• College Student Voting Plan — California Ballot Bowl

For general information on how to vote in your state or territory, you can visit vote.gov.

Resources

There are many resources available to voters. The following are some of the government entities and organizations that you can use to assist with voting, registration, and more.

• Government entities

  • vote.gov, U.S. Election Assistance Commission

  • California Secretary of State

  • California Voter Guide

  • San Francisco Department of Elections

  • California only: BallotTrax

• News

  • CalMatters — 2026 Voter Guide

• Nonprofits

  • Vote.org

  • Rock the Vote

Research Your Ballot

Do some digging before you vote. Here are some tips on how to research your ballot independently so you're ready for the next election:

• Find a sample ballot from your local or state elections office and identify who is running and what initiatives are up for election

• Look over filed candidate statements on a sample ballot

• Review candidates' campaigns and their messaging

• Attend a town hall or debate hosted by candidates or local organizations

• Look into a candidate's voting history or achievements

• Take in local and national news