Pre-18 voter registration in California
In California 516,826 people turn 18 every year.
Californians can pre-register before turning 18.
pre-register before turning To register to vote in California, you must be: 16 years old.
That means all eligible seniors, juniors and most sophomores in your high school can register to vote today and vote at 18.
Learn more about the voter registration gap in California.
High school students can help one another get ready to vote.
Next Steps!
How to Register to Vote in California
Upcoming Statewide or Federal Elections:
- Nov 3rd, 2026 - California General Election (Register by Oct 19th, 2026)
Useful Links:
- Registration Form - Download the paper registration form for California.
- Registration Status - Check if you are already registered, your polling place, and more from your state’s voter registration website.
- Fair Elections Center - Learn about conducting a registration drive in California.
- Vote 411 - A nonpartisan resource to help you register, preview your ballot, and find key election information from the League of Women Voters.
- VoteRiders - Find out what forms of ID you can use to register and vote, and get help getting a valid form of ID.
Full Registration Details
By Mail: ID Requirements
To submit a voter registration application by mail in California, you must provide your California driver's license number OR state ID number, if you have one. If you do not have either of these ID numbers, you must instead provide the last four digits of your Social Security number.
If you do not include any of these ID numbers with your application, you will be required to provide an acceptable form of ID when voting for the first time in a federal election.
By Mail: Eligibility Requirements
To register in California you must:
be a United States citizen
be a California resident
be at least 18 years old or older on Election Day
not be currently serving a state or federal prison term for the conviction of a felony
not be currently found to be mentally incompetent to vote by a court
By Mail: New Voter Instructions
If you are registering to vote for the first time in your county and submit your registration application by mail, federal law requires you to provide proof of identification. Include an acceptable ID number, if you have one, on your application. If you do not have an acceptable ID number, you must instead submit with your application a COPY of identification documentation OR show proof of identification when you vote. Acceptable forms of identification include a current and valid photo ID OR a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or government document that shows your name and address. More information about these requirements is available on the California Secretary of State website.
Online Instructions
To register online in California, you need to provide a California-issued driver's license or California identification card number, the last four digits of your Social Security number, and consent to the use of your DMV-stored digital signature to use California’s online voter registration system. If you don't have a California-issued ID or don't want to provide consent for the use of your digital signature, you can use the California Online Voter Registration system to fill out an application. You must then print the form or request that your local election office print and mail the form to you. The printed form must be completed and returned to your local election office by mail or in person.
More information here.
California High School Educators!!!
Support your students’ voter registration effort with our free toolkit.
California Requirements for High School Voter Registration
High schools are required to designate a person responsible for distributing voter registration forms, and the Secretary of State is required to distribute forms to high schools and to report to the Legislature regarding student voter registration efforts.
The last two full weeks in April and September are designated as High School Voter Education Weeks, during which time persons authorized by the county elections official shall be allowed to register students and school personnel on any high school campus.
About this information
This page presents a curated compilation of voting and election information, specifically geared toward high school students, their families, and educators.
Information about deadlines and voting laws is retrieved via the Democracy Works Elections API and was last retrieved on Jul 6th, 2026; the API compiles election guidance from official government sources and other vetted data providers, and details may change over time. Information concerning requirements for high schools is based on The Civics Center’s analysis of State Requirements for High School Voter Registration and was last updated on Jun 22nd, 2026.
Information about youth turning 18 each year is from the U.S. Census, and information on the number of 18-year-olds who have not yet registered is based on applying TCC’s analysis of Census data and state voter files. We also provide links to trusted resources, including VoteRiders (for voter ID information) and Fair Elections Center (for information about laws governing voter registration drives).
These pages are offered for guidance only and are not intended as legal advice. Please consult state election officials or an attorney if you have questions about any particular situation. We hope you find this useful. To cite our resources and original research, please provide links and/or cite The Civics Center.
© 2026 The Civics Center
