There’s still time for U.S. military personnel and other Americans living abroad to register to vote and submit a ballot for the 2024 election. Though it’s a bit of a complicated process, there are organized election pathways for voters who may be deployed at sea or living outside of the U.S. for other reasons. For Californians, that means they have the right to vote, according to the Secretary of State, “in the California precinct in which the voter was a resident when they last lived within the territorial limits of the U.S. or D.C. or, for a citizen born outside of the U.S., in the California precinct in which the citizen’s parent or legal guardian resided when the parent or legal guardian last lived within the territorial limits of the U.S. or D.C.” Voters should take action as soon as possible. This guide offers tips for registering and voting, especially for those registering in San Diego County and California. For more information on voting abroad for San Diego County, go here: sdvote.com/content/rov/en/militaryoverseasvoting.html You must re-register to vote. Here’s how. Eligible California residents, including military, can register to vote online. Go to registertovote.ca.gov. State election officials say that even if you were already registered in your county, you’ll have to do it anew to get the latest election materials and ballot. Voters can also submit a special form, the the Federal Post Card Application — which serves as voter registration and an absentee ballot request — but should be mindful of how long it may take to mail it from wherever they are located. Find the form here: fvap.gov/uploads/FVAP/Forms/fpca.pdf Non-military voters can get the card at any U.S. embassy or consulate, while military voters can obtain the card from their installation’s Voting Assistance Officer. State by state instructions can be found at FVAP.gov. For California, after you’ve registered, you can double check your registration at voterstatus.sos.ca.gov. How to receive your ballot When registering to vote in California, you can select mail, email or fax, for how to receive your ballot. To fax, voters will need to include an official fax cover sheet that can be found here: fvap.gov/uploads/FVAP/Forms/coversheet.pdf. There’s also the option for a method called Remote Accessible Vote by Mail, which allows voters to download a ballot on a personal computer that they can print and email to their county election office. This method is available 32 days prior to Election Day at: sdvote.com/content/rov/en/HowToVoteByMail/RemoteAccessibleVote-by-Mail.html If you are registered but had a change of mailing address, you can submit a request for a new ballot at sdvote.com. How to submit your ballot to be counted Military and overseas voters should send their ballot to their county election official. Find the information for your county, go here: fvap.gov/search-offices. If you send it via mail for California, it must be postmarked on or before Election Day and received no later than seven days after the election. Service members at sea are recommended to send their ballots by Oct. 1. Other military or overseas voters are recommended to send their ballots by Oct. 8. Military voters and their families can get free express mail service for their ballots at their military postal office location or at U.S. embassies or consulates. What if I don’t get my ballot in time? A backup plan is available. Registered voters can use the Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot. Select your state and fill out the information here: fvap.gov/r3/fwab/state Still have questions? More resources can be found through the Federal Voting Assistance Program at the Department of Defense: fvap.gov. Call (703) 588-1584 or (800) 438-VOTE (8683). The U.S. Department of State also offers information online: travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/while-abroad/voting.html In San Diego County, military and overseas voters can ask questions about voting here: sdvote.com/content/rov/en/ContactUs/vote-by-mail-inquiries.html They can also contact the San Diego County Registrar of Voters via phone at (858) 565-5800 or (800) 696-0136. The fax number is (858) 505-7294. For future elections Election officials recommend that military and overseas voters update and submit the Federal Post Card Application every time they move.