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City Clerk

Show All Answers

1. When am I eligible to vote?

You are eligible if you meet all of the following requirements:

• A U.S. citizen
  
• At least 18 years of age by Election Day
  
• A resident of California
  
• Registered at least 15 days before the election
  
• Not in prison or on parole for the conviction of a felony
  
• Not currently judged mentally incompetent by a court of law

2. How can I register to vote?

You can register online on the Secretary of State's website.

You can also fill out the short Registration by Mail form. Sign the form and mail it. It's pre-addressed, and no stamp is required. Voter registration forms are available at the Registrar of Voters Office located in the Alameda County Courthouse:

1225 Fallon Street, Room G-1
Oakland, CA 94612

Forms are also available at all offices of the Department of Motor Vehicles, all city clerks offices, public libraries, and post offices. You may also call the Registrar of Voters at (510) 267-8683 or the Secretary of State at (800) 345-VOTE and request a registration form to be mailed to you.

3. When is the deadline for registering to vote in California?

You can register at any time, but be sure to do it at least 15 days before the first election in which you want to vote.

4. Does it cost to register to vote?

No. Registration is free.

5. Am I registered to vote once I fill out and mail the registration form?

Call the Alameda County Registrar of Voters Office at (510) 272-6973 and ask if you are registered. You can't be sure you are registered until you receive a voter notification card from the County and sometimes their may be delays in receiving your notification. That's why it is a good idea to save the form's stub as a receipt. Call the ROV if the notification card does not arrive within three weeks.

6. Do I ever have to re-register to vote?

You only need to re-register if you move, change your name, or want to change your political party.

7. Can my voter registration be cancelled because I fail to vote?

No.

8. Can I register for someone else?

You can only register for yourself. However, you may help others fill out a form, but they must sign the form.

9. What is a sample ballot?

Before each election, each registered voter receives a packet of information including a sample ballot which is a replica of the ballot the voter will see at the polls. It also gives the time and date of the election, and location of the polling place, and contains an application to vote by mail. The sample ballot is prepared and distributed by the election officials in each of California's 58 counties. Candidates for nonpartisan office can pay to have a statement included in the sample ballot.

10. What if I do not receive a sample ballot?

If it doesn't arrive two weeks before the election, call and request it from the Registrar of Voters Office at (510) 272-6973.

11. What is a ballot pamphlet?

It is a booklet prepared by the California Secretary of State and mailed to every household with at least one registered voter. It describes every statewide measure on the ballot, with arguments for and against each one, and includes an impartial analysis of the costs and benefits of each measure.

12. Where will I vote?

Your polling place will be shown on the back of your sample ballot. Poll locations may change from one election to another. It is important to go to the correct polling place. Your name will not be on the roster of voters at any other polling place. A wheelchair symbol to the right of the polling location on your sample ballot means the poll is accessible to the handicapped. You may also find your polling place on the Registrar of Voters website or by calling the City Clerk's Office at (925) 833-6650. Phones will be answered at the City Clerk's Office on election day during polling hours.

13. Can I vote without going to the polling place?

Yes. You can vote by mail. Vote by Mail allows voters to cast a ballot without going to a polling place. If a registered voter has applied to vote by mail, the Registrar's office mails a ballot to the registered address of the voter beginning 29 days before an election. Any voter can apply to vote by mail permanently in every election. You may apply to vote by mail before each election, or you may apply for permanent mail voter status by filling out the Permanent Vote By Mail application form from the Registrar of Voters Vote by Mail website.

14. Where do I return a Vote by Mail ballot?

You can return it to the Alameda County Registrar of Voters Drop-Off Mailbox located in front of Dublin City Hall, 100 Civic Plaza, Dublin, CA 94568.

It can also be mailed to the Registrar of Voters or delivered in person to any polling place in your county no later than 8:00 PM on election day. If illness or a physical disability prevents you from returning your ballot in person, you may designate a close relative to return the ballot to the polling place.

The Registrar of Voters Office is located in the Alameda County Courthouse at:
1225 Fallon Street, Room G-1
Oakland, CA 94612

15. What if my polling place is not accessible to persons with disabilities?

You may vote by mail. You can request a ballot from the Registrar of Voters. You may also vote at your nearest polling place. A precinct board member will bring a ballot to you just outside the polling place or you may request a Vote by Mail ballot. You may also apply to your Registrar of Voters to be a Permanent Vote by Mail voter.

The registrar of voters office is located in the Alameda County Courthouse at:
1225 Fallon Street, Room G-1
Oakland, CA 94612

16. Do I need identification when I go to vote?

No. You will just be asked to state your name and address and sign the roster of voters.

17. What if I make a mistake on my ballot?

You may request another ballot.

18. What types of elections are there?

There are three basic types:

• Primary
  
• General
  
• Local

In addition, special elections can be called, which are limited to one specific purpose (e.g., filling a vacancy). The City of Dublin conducts a general election.

19. How can I find answers to other election-related questions?

Contact the Registrar of Voters Office at (510) 272-6973.