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Conditional Voter Registration FAQs

What is Conditional Voter Registration?

Conditional voter registration extends the existing 15-day registration deadline in California to eligible voters, allowing them to register and vote provisionally 14 days prior to an election and on Election Day at the Registrar of Voters office, any Vote Center Location during the 11-day in-person voting period, or remotely using our remote accessible vote-by-mail system. For more information on early voting, click here.

 

When did Conditional Voter Registration go into effect?

It went into effect on January 1, 2017 after the statewide voter registration database was certified. 

 

Where can I register as a conditional voter?

You can register and vote a provisional ballot as a conditional voter at the office of the Orange County Registrar of Voters, located at 1300 S. Grand Avenue, Bldg. C, Santa Ana, 92705, at any Vote Center Location during the 11-day in-person voting period, or you can register online. For more information on early voting, click here. 

  

Can I register online as a conditional voter?

Yes, you may register online at ocvote.gov/register; however, in order to cast a ballot for the election, you will need to come to our office located at 1300 S. Grand Avenue, Bldg. C,  go to any Vote Center Location during the 11-day in-person voting period, or notify our office through our remote conditional voting system and download a remote accessible vote-by-mail ballot. For more information on early voting, click here. 

 

Will I be able to cast a ballot the same day/time I register to vote?

Yes, you will be able to register and vote provisionally on the same day, but only at the Registrar of Voter’s office located at 1300 South Grand Avenue, Bldg. C, Santa Ana, 92705, at any Vote Center Location during the 11-day in-person voting period, or notify our office through our remote conditional voting system and download a remote accessible vote-by-mail ballot. For more information on early voting, click here. 

 

Can I register online E-14 through Election Day and request a Conditional Voter Registration provisional ballot be sent to me in the mail?

Although you can register online during this period, you will need to come to the Registrar of Voter’s office located at 1300 South Grand Avenue, Bldg. C, Santa Ana, 92705, go to any Vote Center Location during the 11-day in-person voting period, or notify our office through our remote conditional voting system and download a remote accessible vote-by-mail ballot. For more information on early voting, click here. 

 

Will my Conditional Voter Registration provisional ballot be treated and processed the same as other provisional ballots?

Yes, your conditional voter registration provisional ballot will be treated and processed the same as other provisional ballots.

 

How do I check the status of my Conditional Voter Registration?

You may check the status of your voter registration after 48 hours at ocvote.gov/vlt or on the Secretary of State’s website at voterstatus.sos.ca.gov.

 

How do I check the status of my Conditional Voter Registration provisional ballot?

You may check the status of your provisional ballot 30 days after the election at ocvote.gov/provisional.

 

How does Conditional Voter Registration impact the voting process?

Now that the State of California has implemented a statewide voter registration database, an elections official can determine if a conditional voter has already voted in the State of California before counting the ballot.

 

Are there penalties for voters that register and vote more than once?

Yes. The Registrar of Voters will report any fraudulent activity to both the District Attorney and the Secretary of State. The penalty for fraud in the execution of a conditional voter registration is imprisonment in the county jail for up to one year, or a fine up to $25,000 or both.