Shasta County and the rest of California votes in the 2024 Presidential General Election on Tuesday Nov. 5, 2024.
In addition to casting their vote for the next president of the United States, Shasta County voters will decide the outcome of races for Redding, Shasta Lake and Anderson city council, county District 3 supervisor and school boards.
Depending on their district, voters also will decide on 13 measures mostly related to schools.
There are also questions about fire protection services in Burney. Two questions facing voters are specific to the Board of Supervisors, one an eminent domain issue and the other on how to replace an elected department head in case of an unexpected mid-term vacancy.
California-wide, a total of 10 state measures will be on the November ballot.
Among state and federal races on the ballot are U.S. Senate, California Congressional District 1, state Senate District 1 and state Assembly District 1.
With so many races and measures specific to voters in different school, fire and other districts, there will be 59 separate ballots going to Shasta County voters in October, Clerk and Registrar of Voters Thomas Toller said.
Here are answers to 16 questions about voting in Shasta County and how people can participate as a voter, observer or poll worker, according to state and county elections offices.
When does early voting start for 2024 presidential election in California?
First ballots go into the mail on Monday, Oct. 7, the California Secretary of State’s elections office reported.
Ballot drop-off locations open Tuesday, Oct. 8, according to the state.
If you don’t receive your ballot within several days, call or visit the county elections office.
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When is the last day to vote in California?
To be counted, ballots must be postmarked on or before Election Day, Nov. 5, or dropped off no later than 8 p.m. that day.
Vote-by-mail ballots postmarked on or before Election Day must be received by Nov. 12, according to the state.
How do I turn in my ballot?
In person on Election Day: You can drop off your ballot at the elections office or any official polling place in California from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Nov. 5.
By mail: You can mail in your ballot using the instructions on the envelope. Remember to sign your ballot and put it in the envelope provided before mailing.
By dropping it off: You can drop off your ballot at the Shasta County Elections Office or at an official ballot drop box location. All drop boxes close no later than at 8 p.m. on Election Day — and some close earlier.
For a list of drop box locations and hours accessible go to elections.shastacounty.gov/ballot-drop-boxes.
How do I know my ballot was received/counted?
Voters who mail in their ballot can find out if it arrived at the elections office online. Go to ‘Vote-by-Mail Ballot Lookup at sos.ca.gov/elections/ballot-status/wheres-my-ballot and type in your address.
Shasta County residents with questions about their provisional ballot should select “Provisional Ballot Lookup.” If you receive the message “No voter information was found,” call the elections office.
Voters can also sign up to receive updates at shastavotes.ballottrax.net/voter/.
In both cases, be sure to enter your information exactly the way the website instructs.
I lost, damaged or didn’t get my mail-in ballot. What do I do?
You can request a replacement vote-by-mail ballot up to seven days before the election.
Go to elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov/vote-by-mail/pdf/replacement-application.pdf to fill out a printable ballot replacement form, or pick one up at the county elections office. Forms must only be turned in to the voter’s county elections office.
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How do I register to vote?
Online: Californians can register to vote on the California Secretary of State’s elections office website at registertovote.ca.gov. You’ll need to enter your California driver license or California identification card number, the last four digits of your social security number and your date of birth. If you don’t have a driver license or state identification card, you can still register, but you’ll need to “take additional steps to complete your voter registration,” according to the the state.
By mail: Call the Shasta County Elections office at 530-225-5730 and ask their staff to mail you a registration card.
In person: Shasta County residents can register at the elections office:
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Through Oct. 6, go to the location at 1450 Court St. suite 108 in Redding.
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Starting at Oct. 7, go to the location at 1643 Market St. in Redding.
Regular hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The office stays open until 8 p.m. on Election Day.
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Who can register to vote?
To register to vote in California you must be a U.S. citizen and state resident who’s at least 18 years old by Election Day. You must not be “currently serving a state or federal prison term for the conviction of a felony” or have been declared mentally incompetent by a court, according to the county.
Am I already registered to vote in California? How to check
Go to the Shasta County Elections office website at elections.shastacounty.gov and see the Voter Registration dropdown at the top left under the county’s banner. Click on Registration Information and type in your date of birth, street address and zip code to see if you’re registered.
You can also call or visit the county elections office.
If you’re from another California county, see a list of county elections offices on the California Secretary of State’s website at sos.ca.gov/elections/voting-resources/county-elections-offices.
More: Where Shasta County District 3 supervisor candidates stand in high-stakes November election
When’s the deadline to register to vote on Nov. 5?
The deadline to register in time for the Presidential Election is Monday, Oct. 21, according to the state.
The state also allows for conditional registration in person after the deadline passes, from Oct. 22 to Election Day. Visit the county elections office to do so.
I’m visiting Shasta County, or I’m a Shasta resident visiting another California county. Can I still vote in person on Election Day?
Voters from any California county can drop off their ballot at any other California county’s official polling place from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day, Nov. 5.
Visitors to Shasta from other counties who need a replacement ballot must contact their own county’s elections office.
Do I need to sign up to get an absentee ballot?
Every registered California voter will be sent a ballot by mail.
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How do I know my polling place on Election Day?
You can look up your official polling place on the elections office website at elections.shastacounty.gov/voter-profile, or call or visit the elections office.
You can also check the back of your sample ballot booklet for your polling place.
I changed my address. What do I do to get my ballot?
Follow the same instructions you would for a lost ballot.
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What do I do if my signatures don’t match?
The elections office will notify you if the signature on your ballot doesn’t match the one on your voter registration.
If that happens, you’ll need to fill out a signature verification statement and submit it at the county elections office.
Can I be a volunteer poll worker?
You can apply to be a poll worker if you’re a U.S. citizen or a lawful permanent resident registered to vote in California.
While those qualifications require you to be 18 years old by Election Day, there’s an exception. High school students can be poll workers if they:
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are enrolled in the Student Poll Worker Program
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are age 16 or 17 by Nov. 5
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have at least a 2.5 grade point average on a 4.0 scale
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present written permission from a parent/guardian, and from their school principal or vice principal
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complete all poll worker training
Go to elections.shastacounty.gov/volunteer/volunteer-info/becoming-a-poll-worker to apply.
How can I be an elections observer?
Anyone can be an elections observer, according to the Shasta County Elections Office.
For a full list of observer dos and don’ts, go to elections.shastacounty.gov/election-observer.
Jessica Skropanic is a features reporter for the Record Searchlight/USA Today Network. She covers science, arts, social issues and news stories. Follow her on Twitter @RS_JSkropanic and on Facebook. Join Jessica in the Get Out! Nor Cal recreation Facebook group. To support and sustain this work, please subscribe today. Thank you.
This article originally appeared on Redding Record Searchlight: Key dates for voting in Shasta County, California for 2024 election
