16- and 17-Year-Old Voter Pre-Registration

California's 16- and 17-year-olds can pre-register to vote. Pre-registration does not change the voting age, which is still 18. Instead, it allows eligible Californians age 16 or 17 to complete the voter registration process, either online or by paper registration, so that they will be automatically registered to vote as soon as they turn 18. 

Pre-registration is available to California youth who are 16 or 17 and meet the following criteria:

• A United States citizen and a resident of California,

• 18 years old or older on Election Day,

• Not currently serving a state or federal prison term for the conviction of a felony, and

• Not currently found mentally incompetent to vote by a court (for more information, please see Voting Rights: Persons Subject to Conservatorship).

16- and 17-year-olds who are registering online and who do not have a signature on file with the DMV, through a driver license or state ID card, will need to complete the pre-registration process by printing a paper form and mailing it to the Elections office. Applicants will be sent a confirmation when their voter pre-registration application is processed, or they will be contacted if more information is needed to confirm their eligibility. 

Pre-register online today.