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VOTING & ELECTIONS

"Everybody counts in applying democracy. And there will never be a true democracy until every responsible and law-abiding adult in it, without regard to race, sex, color or creed has his or her own inalienable and unpurchasable voice in government." -Carrie Chapman Catt, Founder LWV

people holding up large letters V-O-T-E

How do I vote?

woman holding paper with VOTE sticker
Register! United States Citizens residing in California 18 years or older on election day can register to vote with the California Secretary of State. Citizens aged 16 and 17 can pre-register with the California Secretary of State or when they apply for a California Driver's License or ID card. To change the address or other details associated with one's voter registration,  re-register online or print a Voter Action Change Form and mail it to the Registrar.  The Voting registration deadline is 15 days prior to an election, but eligible voters can complete a Conditional Voter Registration form (CVR) at the Registrar of Voters office or at a Vote Center and cast a CVR provisional ballot at any time on or before election day. For more information check out our Register to Vote page. 
people behind woman holding VOTE sticker
What’s on my ballot? Visit Vote 411to learn about candidates and other ballot measures. Visit our What’s on my ballot? webpage to access LWVPA’s Candidate Forums and Pro/Con initiative discussions. The nonprofit Ballotpedia is another helpful resource.  The Santa Clara County Voter Information Guide, which comes to you in the mail, also provides basic information about what's on your ballot, and you can go green by signing up to receive it via email.  The League of Women voters is nonpartisan and never endorses candidates or political parties.

How do I fill out and return my Vote-By-Mail Ballot?


Vote by mail ballot envelope
Cast, return, and track your ballot. Thanks to the Voter’s Choice Act, all registered California voters get a ballot mailed to them 29 days before an election. Link here to learn how to fill out your secure ballot and don’t forget to sign the back of the first class postage-paid envelope. (No stamps required!)  The most common way to return a ballot is to mail it in using the secure prepaid envelope.   As long as the ballot is post-marked on or before election day and received no later than 7 days after election day it will be counted.  Track your ballot by signing up for Where's My Ballot?. Here are three additional secure ways to return a ballot: 
  1. Voters can drop their ballot off at an official safe secure drop box location. Go to Find Ballot Drop box to locate a secure drop box near you.
  2. Voters can visit a Vote Center to drop off their ballot or replace their ballot if a mistake was made, or to receive assistance with casting their ballot.  Some Vote Centers are open 11 days prior to the election and even more are available 4 days prior to the election. A list of Vote Centers is enclosed with your ballot or link to Find Vote Center to locate a Vote Center near you. You can use any Vote Center in Santa Clara County. 
  3. Voters can visit the friendly Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters Office.
View The Path of the Ballot to find out more about Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters’ secure Vote-By-Mail system.
person torso holding US flag and small ballot box with VOTE
More questions? Visit the Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters

Go to County of Santa Clara Registrar of Voters to:

Which District am I in?


Map showing Palo Alto
District Maps Change  Every 10 years the boundary lines of every election district in the United States, at every level, is re-examined based on population changes that show in the National Census.   To find out which districts you are voting in this election,  use sccrov  Look Up Your District .

As of 2022 your election boundaries may have had changes based on the 2020 National Census.  For example, Palo Alto is now in the 16th Congressional District (previously 18th) and in the 23rd Assembly District (previously 24). Midpeninsula Regional district ward boundaries changed and Foothill-De Anza Community College districts were drawn. Check out the following sources:
  • CalMatters, a non-partisan site where you can type in your address and see maps of how your district maps may or may not have changed
  • WeDrawTheLinesCa, the site of the 2020 California Citizens Redistricting Commission, where you can see details of the final approved maps for the Board of Equalizations, U.S. Congress, State Senate, and State Assembly 
  • Midpeninsula Regional Open Space Ward Redistricting Map
  • Starting with the November 2022 election, the Foothill-De Anza Community College District will elect its governing board members from five trustee areas rather than at-large District Map.  Palo Alto is in District 5 and will vote in November 2024. 

Helpful Resources

Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters

California Secretary of State

Vote 411

Quicklink: www.lwvpaloalto.org/voting-elections
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