Last Day to Register to Vote in June Primary is Monday, May 21

The last day to sign up to vote in the June 5, 2012 Presidential Primary is Monday, May 21.

To be eligible to register and vote, a person must be a U.S. citizen, at least 18 years old on or before June 5, and not be in prison or on parole for a felony conviction.

California voters enacted the Top Two Primary where all voters regardless of party will be allowed to vote for any candidate regardless of political party; however, the nominees for President are still selected by party.  So, if you want to vote for a candidate running for the Republican Presidential nomination, you must be registered with the Republican Party. The same is true for the Green, Libertarian and Peace and Freedom parties. The Democratic and American Independent party presidential primaries are open to voters registered with their party and voters who are not registered with any of the other qualified political parties.

If voters want to change their political party affiliation for the Primary, or if they do not remember voting within the last five years, have moved since last voting, or have changed their name, they must complete a new voter’s registration card. Voters may either deliver the completed card to the County Clerk/Elections Department, any of the four City Clerk’s Offices, drop it in the white mail box receptacle in front of the County Building used for returning vote-by-mail ballots until midnight May 21, or have it postmarked no later than May 21.

Persons interested in re-registering or registering for the first time in Santa Cruz County may obtain a voter registration card at the County Clerk/Elections Department located at 701 Ocean St., Room 210; City Clerk’s Offices in Capitola, Santa Cruz, Scotts Valley and Watsonville; local libraries; post offices; the Department of Motor Vehicles; social service agencies; military recruitment offices; and fire stations during regular office hours.

For more information, please contact the Santa Cruz County Clerk/Elections Department at 831-454-2060 or go online to www.votescount.com