With Election Day approaching, you might find yourself not registered to vote. Mendocino County’s Registrar of Voters Katrina Bartolomie says students can still register and young voters still have the opportunity to get involved and help make a difference in the community.
How Do I Get Registered?
Bartolomie told us, “They can register online, come into our office, or call us and we will be happy to send a registration form.”
To register online, go to https://registertovote.ca.gov/. If you are 18 years old, you can register by clicking Register to Vote Now. If you are under 18, you can pre-register by clicking the Pre-Register to Vote link, so that you are ready to vote the day you turn 18. You’ll need your California driver’s license (CDL) or other government-issued identification, the last four digits of your social security number, and an email address.
To register in person, you can visit the County Elections office at 501 Low Gap Road, right down from Wildcat Nation at the corner of Low Gap Road and Bush Street, or the Ukiah Department of Motor Vehicles at 542 S. Orchard Avenue in Ukiah.
To register by phone, call the registrar of voters line at (707) 234-6819 and they will mail you a registration form.
Going to College or Relocating
If you’re going to college, you don’t have to re-register! Call the voters’ registrar at (707) 234-6819 and provide your new college mailing address. While you’re in college, whether close or far from home, you will continue to receive a Mendocino County mail-in ballot at your new address.
If you have a permanent change of address, even if you are still in the County, it’s important to re-register.
Signatures
The signature on your registration versus your ballot is checked. If the signatures don’t match, you’ll be contacted by the registrar using the means you’ve provided. To save time, take care to replicate your signature on election documents.
Why is it important?
Civil rights activist and Congressman John Lewis once said “The vote is precious. It is the most powerful non-violent tool we have in a democratic society, and we must use it.” Our communities should represent the majority through the laws we pass and the people we elect. Making big changes in a small community starts with as many as possible voicing their vote.
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