Get Ready, Get Set, Vote!

You have to register to vote at one address.

•  When you get your ballot, you will not just vote for president of the United States. You will also vote for statewide offices like governor or senator, legislative offices like representative to the U.S. House, and local offices like school board representative and mayor. These people are elected in particular geographic jurisdictions, and only the people who live there can vote for them. That's why you have to choose just one address as your residence for voting--that choice determines which candidates will be on your ballot.

If you have both a permanent address and a school-year address, you get to choose which residence you want to use for voting. There is no right or wrong answer, and you can change your registration before any applicable deadlines. Just make sure you only actually vote in one place. (Voting twice in the same election is a felony.)

I will be living in San Diego and I know I want to register and vote with my San Diego address.

I know I want to register at my parents/home address elsewhere in California.

I know I want to register at my parents/home address in another state.

I think I'm registered but I want to check. 

There is more to voting than just presidential elections. You get to decide who represents you in your city government, your state government, and in Congress as well.

Reliable sources

It's great to read a newspaper every day. The library also holds workshops on how to be news literate.

Events at USD

• As a University, our mission is to help our community seek out and reliable information. Every semester there a variety of events and virtual events on campus to help you learn about politics, government, and public policy.

Websites

• Did you know that every ballot in the United States is printed at the county level? So your choices and decisions may be different from others who live in different states, cities, or even neighborhoods. Thankfully, the internet makes getting reliable information easy, if you know where to look.

• Ballotpedia compiles voting records and public statements from public officials from around the country at many levels of government. It also has a local ballot tool to help you look up your own ballot choices.

• Ballot Ready helps you check out information for the candidates on your local ballot. 

• California voters can learn about statewide ballot propositions and candidates at Californiachoices.org.

• Project Vote Smart compiles voting records and public statements from public officials around the country. Once you know who is running for office in your community, this is a great resource to check out their records.

• The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan organization that compiles election specific information from around the country.

• Once you know who is representing you, check out their websites. Obviously they want to present themselves as positively as possible, but check out what they promise to do if elected!

Do you use a planner? Google calendar? Microsoft outlook? Take a moment right now to write down some important dates!

• I am casting a ballot in person in San Diego
• I am casting a ballot by mail in San Diego
• I am casting a ballot by mail from another California county
• I am casting a ballot in person in another California County
• I am casting a ballot by mail from another state