The 2024 United States primary and general elections are fast approaching, with general election day scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 5. Based on current polling, incumbent President Joe Biden (2021-), representing the Democratic Party, will most likely face off against former President Donald Trump (2017-2021), representing the Republican Party. As Biden seeks a second term, Trump aims to become the second president to achieve nonconsecutive terms, the first being Grover Cleveland (1885-1889, 1893-1897). This election is pivotal with issues such as gun violence, debt, immigration, climate change, and global warfare at the forefront of campaigns. Voters in California will vote twice this year: in the March 5 primary election to select presidential and congressional candidates and in the Nov. 5 general election. The minimum voting age across the U.S. is 18 years old, so many current Miramonte upperclassmen will be eligible to vote for the first time this spring and/or fall. Here is a guide to pre-register to vote and to help decide the direction of our nation’s future.

In order to pre-register to vote in California, you must be:

• 17 years old currently and 18 years old on a given election day (Mar. 5th or Nov. 5th),
• A United States citizen and a resident of California,
• Not currently serving a state or federal prison term for the conviction of a felony,
• Not currently found mentally incompetent to vote by a court.

How to Pre-Register to Vote

1. Ensure you qualify to pre-register.
2. Visit https://RegisterToVote.ca.gov.
3. Click the “Pre-Register to Vote” button.
4. Complete the online pre-registration application (the application includes citizenship, identification, mailing address, etc.).
5. On your 18th birthday, find your registration status at https://voterstatus.sos.ca.gov/.

Registration Deadlines

In California, the deadline to register to vote for any election is 15 days prior to election day. The primary election registration deadline is Monday, Feb. 19th, 2024. The general election voting registration deadline is Monday, Oct. 21, 2024. If you register less than 15 days before election day, you will need to complete the same-day voter registration process in-person at your polling location. The process entails proving your identification, filling out a registration form, and your eligibility being confirmed. Visit http://caearlyvoting.sos.ca.gov/ to find polling locations as they are released.

What You Will Need For Getting a Ballot In Person

• Your date of birth.
• Your California driver’s license or California identification card number.
• The last four digits of your social security number.

Once you have properly pre-registered to vote, you will become automatically eligible to vote on election day. If you do not have a California driver’s license or California identification card, you must bring another acceptable form of identification. This includes your passport, student ID, the sample ballot booklet you received from your county elections office, a copy of a recent utility bill, or another document sent to you by a government agency.