By Sunita Sohrabji

California voters have numerous privileges, including same-day registration, in-language ballots in 9 languages, and the ability to ask for help when filling out their ballots.

Though her family has lived in the US for more than 200 years, California Secretary of State Dr. Shirley Weber is only a second-generation voter — a reminder, she says, of the multiple challenges minority voters face in accessing the ballot box.

“My ancestors never got a chance to vote: not that they didn’t have the right to vote, but because of the difficulty and the challenges of being able to register,” said Weber Oct. 21, speaking at a special news briefing hosted by American Community Media.

Weber’s family moved to California in the 1950s. Her father was in his 30s when he successfully registered to vote and cast his first ballot. “So we recognize — in our family, and in so many other families — just how precious this experience is. 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 with every election here in California with its very diverse population. The ability to be able to vote comfortably, and to be able to vote in a timely manner that really counts your ballot and makes sure your voice is heard,” she said.

Special Election

As of Oct. 20, more than 2.5 million votes had already been cast for California’s special election Nov. 4, which has just a single issue on the ballot. Prop. 50, if approved by voters, would allow the State Legislature to redraw Congressional districts, bypassing California’s independent citizens-redistricting commission until 2030. Democratic leaders in California hope to counter Texas’ redrawn maps, which would add 5 Republican seats in Congress. California would gain 5 Democratic seats with its redrawn maps.

Weber did not discuss Prop. 50 during the 30-minute news briefing, and instead focused her remarks on the ease with which California voters can participate in the special election. Every eligible voter in the state has already received a mail-in ballot: these can be dropped off in the mail box, at the post office, or at a polling site Nov. 4. She urged people who are voting by mail to drop their ballots off early, and — if going to the post office on Nov. 4 — to go inside and have the ballot stamped.

Secure ballot boxes have also been placed around the state. Weber emphasized that these are safe, and cannot be carried off. “These are monstrosities. They’re like a tank made of steel and screwed in the ground. The only way you can access them is with a key,” she said. Ballot boxes will remain accessible for drop off until 8 pm on Nov. 4. Voters can search for their closest ballot box on this site: https://caearlyvoting.sos.ca.gov/

Same Day Registration

The last day to register to vote and receive a ballot in the mail was Oct. 20. But eligible voters who missed the deadline can come to a polling place Nov. 4 and register that same day to cast their ballot. Weber noted these are provisional voters: their ballots would not be counted until all their eligibility information has been verified. “But they will have a chance to vote and influence the election,” she said.

California is one of 23 states that allows same day registration to vote. Potential voters in the state can register in person with a driver’s license or state ID, and the last 4 digits of their Social Security number.

Voter fraud is extremely rare in California. In a report presented to the California state Senate last August, the California Research Bureau, in collaboration with the California State Library, found just 10 instances of voter fraud for the period 2020-2024.

In-Language Ballots

California’s Voter Bill of Rights guarantees a number of protections for eligible voters. Ballots are currently available in 9 languages other than English. Voters can obtain ballots written in Spanish, Chinese, Hindi, Japanese, Khmer, Korean, Tagalog, Thai, and Vietnamese. Additional languages will be added by the Secretary of State’s office if there are enough voters who primarily speak that language, said Weber, noting that adding additional in-language ballots is a complex process. Ballots have to reflect the nuances of complicated measures. “You can’t just Google it,” she noted with a laugh.

Voters in California can also have friends or family assist them in filling out their ballots. However, they cannot obtain support from an employer or a union representative, noted Weber.

The Secretary of State’s remarks came as the Supreme Court deliberates Louisiana v. Callais, a seminal redistricting case which could determine the fate of the national Voting Rights Act. Of particular concern in the case is Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, which bars voting practices that discriminate against voters based on their race or color. The Court is expected to issue its decision by June 2026.