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Importance of Voting
What do voters need to know about casting their ballots in the 2025 Statewide Special Election on Tuesday, November 4? California Secretary of State Dr. Shirley Weber answered voter questions and concerns at a virtual media briefing on October 21, hosted in partnership with American Community Media to ensure that diverse communities have trusted information about voting.
“Understand just how precious this experience is of voting in the communities that you represent,” she said, emphasizing the importance of making voting accessible and transparent for California’s diverse population.
Over 2.52 million ballots have already been counted, added Dr. Weber, noting that voter participation and special elections have a significant impact on state policies and budgets.
She encouraged early voting and addressed concerns about ballot security, provisional voting, and the availability of ballots in multiple languages; she also offered reassurances about the integrity of the voting process and the office’s preparedness for potential legal challenges.
“Having your voice, having the ability to vote, having it accessible, making it available to so many is really, really important, and that’s what we’ve been trying to do here in California,” she said.
Making Voting Accessible
The ability to vote holds special significance to her family, said Dr. Weber. “My ancestors have been in this country for over 200 years, from the research that we’ve done, and yet I’m a second-generation voter.”
She pointed out challenges that her parents faced in registering to vote. “My parents never got a chance to vote because not that they didn’t have the right to vote, but because (of) the issue and limitations of registration.” It was only in the 1930s that her father was able to register and participate in the voting process. “So, we recognize in our family and in so many other families, just how precious this experience is.”
Voting Options
California offers several ways and voting days to ease the voting process, said Dr. Weber, noting that The Voter’s Choice Act (VCA) provides options such as vote-by-mail, secure drop boxes, same-day registration, and in-person at vote centers and polling places, and the ability to track ballots with Where’s My Ballot?. “We offer these multiple ways that people can vote that’s accessible to you.”
“We have 11 days to vote in California, we have more ways to vote in California, where some states only have the polling place.”
She encouraged voters who prefer in-person voting to use polling places and emphasized the importance of not waiting until the last minute to do so. “Keep in mind, you can walk into those polling places any of those 11 days in a polling site, and you can actually vote in person.”
She encouraged people to submit their mail-in votes early to ensure their votes are counted in time, especially in areas with limited postal services. “If you vote on that day, it may not be counted in certain counties in certain areas. So, we want to make sure that you do.”
Dr. Weber advised voters using the postal service to ensure their ballots are stamped and counted inside the post office on election day. “Make sure you go inside the post office and have your ballot stamped. You have the envelope stamped so that it is then able to be counted. We don’t want anyone to just toss it into the mailbox.”
Anyone who had concerns about voting or issues, she added, could call the hotline at 1-800-345-VOTE for information. “The hotline is open all the time.”
At the Ballot Box
Dr. Weber clarified that October 20 was the last day to register to vote, but explained that voters could opt for same-day registration. “California’s laws allow us to vote on the same day for the same-day registration.” Voters can register or update their registration before the deadline at RegisterToVote.ca.gov and confirm voter status at VoterStatus.sos.ca.gov.
People who opt for same-day registration receive provisional voter status and get a provisional ballot, which will be counted once it’s verified.
All registered voters get a ballot in the mail and the opportunity to vote privately and drop off their ballot into the ballot boxes stationed throughout the city. Their locations are available on the state website, said Weber, offering reassurances about ballot box security. “They’re like a tank screwed in the ground. I mean, they’re thick. They’re steel. And you can’t get it out unless you have a key to get those ballots out.”
She urged people to drop off ballots early. “Their ballot may not be counted on the day of the election if they put it in the ballot box on the day of the election,
Voting Rights
The California Voting Rights Act of 1965, Dr. Weber reminded, offers, for instance, a voter the right to get a new ballot if they have made a mistake, and help casting their new ballot after the erroneous one has been voided. A voter can actually vote and drop their ballot at any polling place in California, she added, because of a statewide database of voter identification.
Voters have the right to get help casting a ballot, except from employers or union reps, said Dr. Weber, warning against ballot collection by employers or union reps, and intimidation or influence by places where voters work.
Voters have the right to ask questions about election procedures and to watch the election process, added Dr. Weber. “You have the right to go to your polling place, to your registrar of voters, and ask to watch the elections, the ballots that are counted.” However, people do not have ‘free rein’ to stand over someone, read names and signatures, or handle ballots.
“You have the right to ask questions, and you have a right to watch. You have the right to also report any illegal or … fraudulent election activity to an election official or the Secretary of State’s office. We have very strict laws in California about elections.”
Security Measures
Security measures are in place to protect the integrity of every ballot and ensure a transparent, accurate voting process, explained Dr. Weber. She addressed the misinformation surrounding ballot envelopes with holes, clarifying their purpose was to aid visually impaired voters, and not “so people can peep through and see how you voted…. The bottom line is ..that all of those holes are designed by, oftentimes by our disabled community, about how they can handle the ballot better, how they can comfortably use the ballot, how they can find the places to sign.”
She encouraged voters to check the status of their ballots online and track their ballots via the state website. “If you ask yourself, where’s my ballot? You can always go on our website. There’s a place that you can register. And interestingly enough, in probably a day, you will get the information once you’ve put your ballot in.”
Accessibility and Language Support
Election materials are available in multiple languages, said Dr. Weber. “There are nine different languages in addition to English that our ballots are printed in.” She added that the state is constantly working to expand the number of languages it can use because of the complexity in printing accurately translated ballots. “It may have the same statewide people on it, but your city council, your water district, your school board, … the Board of Supervisors can all be different in the same community that you live. …So, we have to make sure that we have a quantity of individuals who speak that language in order for us to permanently print that language.”
She reassured voters that the police and federal agents who might be there have been informed of California’s election laws and that the Attorney General will partner in enforcing the law. “We make sure that no one is intimidated, no one is blocked from voting in California.”
“We want folks to feel secure in voting, making sure that they’re protected, that they have access to their ballot.”
This article was written with support from the American Community Media Fellowship Program.