FAQs
- How do I update my voter registration?
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To update your voter information, you can reregister to vote at registertovote.ca.gov or at an in-person vote center. You can also fill out a paper registration form accessible at the elections office, post office, or DMV.
- How do I know if I should reregister?
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You should reregister to vote if your residential address, mailing address, name, or political party affiliation changes.
- If I reregister to vote, will I be registered twice?
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No. Reregistering will update and replace your previous registration information.
- Can I register to vote before I turn 18?
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Yes, if you are a 16- or 17-year-old who meets regular state voter registration requirements, you can pre-register to vote and your registration will become active for the first election after your 18th birthday.
- What do I do to update my voter registration if my signature has changed?
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If your signature has changed from how it appears on your ID or previous voter registration, you will need to complete a paper voter registration form, accessible at the elections office, post office, or DMV.
- Can I still vote in Humboldt County if I have moved locally?
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Yes. If you move within Humboldt County, you can reregister to vote at registertovote.ca.gov or at an in-person voting site. You can also fill out a paper registration form accessible at the elections office, post office, or DMV.
- Can I still vote in Humboldt County if I have moved within California?
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Yes. If you move to a new California address outside Humboldt County, you can reregister to vote at registertovote.ca.gov or contact your new county elections official.
- Can I still vote in Humboldt County if I have moved to another state?
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No. If you move out of state, you will need to register with your local elections official. You may also want to contact the Elections Office to cancel your registration in Humboldt County.
- Can I still vote in Humboldt County if I am currently living abroad?
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Yes. If you are temporarily or indefinitely living abroad, or if you are living abroad due to military service, you may be able to reregister and request a ballot by mail or email by visiting registertovote.ca.gov or fvap.gov and registering as a UOCAVA voter.
- Can I vote if I don’t have a permanent address or am experiencing homelessness?
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Yes. All eligible voters have the right to vote, including a person who is experiencing homelessness. You may register to vote as long as you have a location where you can receive mail and be properly assigned to a voting precinct.
You may register to vote at an address where you spend most of your time, such as a shelter. If you have a driver’s license or state identification you can easily register at registertovote.ca.gov. Please note that you cannot use a P.O. Box or business address to register to vote, but you can use a P.O. Box or business address to receive mail.
If you are unable to use an address, when you register to vote you must describe the location where you live so it is clear enough for the Elections Office to find your voting precinct. You may use cross streets or a park as your address. This ensures that you can receive accurate elections materials based on where you live.
- Can I vote if I have been convicted of a felony?
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Yes. You can register to vote and vote if you are:
- 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
More information on voting with a criminal history can be found at https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voting-resources/voting-california/who-can-vote-california/voting-rights-californians
- What are my rights as a voter?
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Your rights as a voter as described in the Voter Bill of Rights are available at www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voter-bill-rights
- How do I remove myself from the active voter list?
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You can remove yourself from the active voter list by filling out a Voter Registration Cancellation form which can be found at the Elections Office.
- What is a Vote Center?
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A “Vote Center” is a universal polling place where any voter registered in Humboldt County may vote. Simply stated, with Vote Centers, there is no wrong place to vote!
- How do I find the closest Vote Center to me?
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Beginning 30 days before each election, you can find a list of Vote Centers and Ballot Drop Box locations:
- Included in your County Voter Information Guide
- At https://humboldtgov.org/2535/Voting-Options
- By calling our office at (707) 445-7481
- Are Vote Centers open on weekends or holidays?
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Certain Vote Centers will be open starting 10 days before Election Day. This includes two weekends and holidays as they fall.
- I am a voter with a disability, how do I use your accessible voting machines?
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Instructions on how to use our accessible voting machines can be found at this link or this link.
- How can I track my vote-by-mail ballot and know that it’s been counted?
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The California Secretary of State is now offering Where’s My Ballot?—an easy way for voters to track and receive notifications on the status of their vote-by-mail ballot. Powered by BallotTrax, Where’s My Ballot? lets voters know where their ballot is, and its status, every step of the way. Sign up for notifications at WheresMyBallot.so.ca.gov
- How do I become an election worker?
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Applications for becoming an election worker are available at https://humboldtgov.org/3451/Apply-to-be-an-Election-Worker
- How old do I have to be to work during an election?
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You must be 18 or older, or at least 16 with permissions from your guardian and high school administration while maintaining a 2.5 GPA.
- What is the process for training election workers?
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Elections workers are trained by County elections staff in multi-day sessions that are held in-person. Trainees are instructed on the forms and security logs they may encounter and are provided training with manuals on voting equipment. Trainees perform hands-on practice runs of the election with test data to better understand and get comfortable with the process before election day. Trainees are instructed on handling emergency situations such as the loss of power or disruptive voters, as well as security and ADA mitigation.
- How are voter registration applications vetted, and how are voter signatures verified?
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Voter applications are checked for various information including D.O.B., California ID number, partial SSN, and confirmation of U.S. citizenship. Upon being entered into the system, new voter information is passed along to the Secretary of State’s office for verification.
- What precautions is Humboldt County taking to prevent cyber security incursions and outside interference to elections?
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The Elections Office operates on a dedicated server certified by the Secretary of State. Election data is created and maintained on a closed system in a locked room accessible to limited elections officials for further security purposes. The Elections Office maintains a close relationship with county IT, and staff are trained to look out for and report any unusual cyber activity.
- What is the Transparency Project?
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The Transparency Project is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation that independently scans and creates images of all ballots cast in Humboldt County to allow voters to review ballots and elections results. More information can be found at https://electionstransparencyproject.com/
- What voting equipment is used in elections by Humboldt County, and how is it tested and maintained?
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Humboldt County employs the use of Hart Verity equipment for elections. All equipment is certified by the Secretary of State. Logic and Accuracy testing is performed on each machine and ballot type before and after each election. Observation of this testing is available to the public and is encouraged by the elections office.
- When and how often does the elections office get rid of data for voters either deceased or no longer residing in Humboldt County?
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The Elections Office receives daily updates from the Secretary of State on any voters who have moved out of county, have been classified as felons, or are deceased. The Elections Office also receives weekly updates from Humboldt County Vital Statistics on any in county deaths. Upon receipt of this information, voters’ status is updated accordingly.
- Who can access my voter data?
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- any candidate for federal, state, or local office,
- any committee for or against any initiative or referendum measure for which legal publication is made,
- any person for election, scholarly, journalistic, or political purposes, and
- any person for governmental purposes, as determined by the Secretary of State.
- What personal information is excluded from voter data requests?
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CA Drive’s license number, CA Identification card number, last four digits of the Social Security Number, unique identifier, and signature or digitized signature image are excluded from voter data requests.
- When can I file for candidacy?
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Candidate filing begins 113 days before every regularly scheduled election and ends 88 days before the election. If the incumbent for an office has not filed by the end of the filing deadline, then the deadline for that contest will be extended by 5 days.
- Where can I find the Candidate Guide?
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We publish a Candidate Guide approximately 4 months before an upcoming election. The Candidate Guide can be found in the Candidate Filing section of each election at https://humboldtgov.org/2533/Upcoming-Elections
Any questions prospective candidates have prior to the publication of the Candidate Guide can be directed to our staff during normal business hours by emailing humboldt_elections@co.humboldt.ca.us or calling (707) 445-7481.
- Can I file for more than one office?
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No. You may file for only one office at the same election.
- How much are filing fees?
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In most cases, the filing fee is 1 percent of the annual salary of the office the candidate seeks. You must pay the filing fee upon declaring candidacy; if you are a judicial candidate, then you pay when filing the declaration of intent. Candidates may offset the filing fee with signatures in lieu. There are no filing fees if the annual salary for the office sought is $2,500 or less.
- What are signatures in lieu, and when can I start gathering them?
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“In lieu” in this case means to substitute at least some of the filing fee with signatures. If you are required to pay a filing fee, then you may offset the cost with a Petition In-Lieu of Filing Fee.
You may start gathering signatures in lieu 173 days prior to the election. You may apply the signatures you gather toward your nomination, but you have to let our office know that is your intent before you start that process so that we can give you the proper forms.
The number of required signatures for nomination, as well as the number of signatures in lieu required to offset filing fees, are provided in the Candidate Guide published prior to each election.
- How many nomination signatures do I need?
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It depends. The number of signatures required varies depending on the office sought. We will provide information about the number of signatures needed for nomination in the Candidate Guide that we publish ahead of every election.
You must gather signatures from voters of the district you are running in; if the office is countywide, then you may gather signatures from any registered voter of the county. If the office you are running for is party-specific, you must collect signatures from members of your party. Each signature is checked against the voter’s registration information.
You must gather the minimum number of valid signatures required for nomination. Our office will accept no more than the maximum number of signatures allowed. If a voter signs nomination petitions for more candidates than there are offices to be filled, the signatures are counted only on those nomination papers which, taken in the order filed, do not exceed the number of offices to be filled. You will be notified immediately if there are any irregularities or if you are disqualified.
Signatures on the Petition In-Lieu of Filing Fee may be applied toward your nomination, but you must let us know ahead of time that that is your intent.
- What nomination documents do I file and when?
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Candidate filing opens 113 days before an election and closes at 88 days before an election, unless extended.
You may only use official nomination documents issued by the Humboldt County Elections Office. The forms for most candidates are available in our office. Candidates filing for a municipal office should refer to the appropriate City or Town Clerk for candidate filing documents and questions.
Candidates should expect to spend approximately 30 minutes to complete the filing process.
State law requires that all nomination documents contain the candidate’s name and elective office title to which they are seeking nomination or election and be signed by the election official at the time of issuance.
- Is the nomination period ever extended?
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Sometimes, but don’t count on it. If an incumbent does not file nomination documents by 5:00 pm on the 88th day before the election, any person other than the incumbent has until 5:00 pm on the 83rd day before the election to file nomination documents for the elective office. This section is not applicable where there is no incumbent eligible to be elected.
- Can documents be issued to someone other than me?
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Nomination documents cannot be issued to or accepted by an unauthorized person. You may authorize another to act on your behalf, as long as you do so in a signed writing.
- I’ve been convicted of a felony. Do I qualify to run?
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It depends. Certain types of felonies are disqualifying under section 20 of the California Elections Code. Please consult your legal advisor for more information.
- Can I withdraw my candidacy?
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No. Once you complete the Declaration of Candidacy, you may not withdraw.
- How can my name appear on the ballot?
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The ballot name may be designated as follows:
- First, middle, and last name.
- Initials only and last name.
- A nickname may be included but must be in quotation marks, not parentheses.
- A familiar short version of the first name, such as “Bill” for “William”, “Jen” for “Jennifer” or “Jim” for “James.”
- No title or degree can appear on the same line on a ballot as a candidate’s name, either before or after the candidate’s name.
- A change in legal name is not allowed unless the change was made by marriage or by court decree.
- Are there any restrictions for ballot designations?
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Yes. A ballot designation appears below your name on the ballot and is optional. It is your professional title by which you would like voters to know you. Examples of ballot designations include “Attorney at Law,” “Incumbent,” or “Farmer.”
Ballot designations come with several regulations intended to protect voters. The Ballot Designation Worksheet, which we provide to all candidates, will help you navigate all these rules. Please contact our office for any specific questions.
- What if there is an insufficient number of candidates?
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If there is only one candidate for a county position, the candidate's name will appear alone on the ballot. For most other offices, the Board of Supervisors will make appointments in lieu of an election.
- The campaign finance rules and reporting schedules are a little overwhelming. Who can help me?
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You are responsible for knowing the campaign finance rules and reporting requirements. Your best resources are NetFile and the Fair Political Practices Commission, and your legal advisor.
- Can you help me complete my required campaign disclosures?
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No. As a nonpartisan governmental entity, we cannot complete your disclosure forms and we will not provide any legal advice or in-kind services for any political campaign. If you have questions about a disclosure form, please ask the FPPC staff or your legal advisor.