Voters Can Now Register to Vote Online

California has joined 13 other states today as the Secretary of State launched online voter registration. Voters can now go to www.votescount.com or www.registertovote.ca.gov and complete the task of signing up to vote on their computers, tablets, and smartphones.

To be eligible to register and vote, a person must be a U.S. citizen, at least 18 years old on or before November 6, and not be in prison or in county jail (serving a state prison sentence or serving a term of more than one year in jail for a defined "low-level" felony), or on parole, post release community supervision, or post-sentencing probation for a felony conviction.

      When you register online, the system will search the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) database for your California driver’s license or identification card number, date of birth, and last four digits of your social security number. If your information is found and you authorize elections officials' use of your DMV signature, an electronic image of your DMV signature will be added to your voter registration application after you click "submit" at the end of the online application.

      If there is no signature on file with DMV, all of your information will be transmitted to your county elections office; you will just need to click "print," sign the paper application, and mail it. Your county elections official will contact you when your voter registration application is approved or when more information is needed to confirm your eligibility.

The last day to register to vote in the November 6, 2012 Presidential General Election is Monday, October 22. In addition to online voter registration, citizens may obtain voter registration cards 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. Or you may call 831-454-2060 and a card will be mailed to you.

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