As we enter October, we find ourselves in the midst of one of the most important seasons of the year–voting season, of course! There are many things to consider before you cast your ballot. Here, we provide some suggestions for voting in California, particularly for seniors voting.
Choosing Your Candidate
Before we dive into the particulars of the voting process, let’s get down to brass tacks: Do you know who you’re voting for and why? Our first suggestion is to research the candidates and their policies. Newspapers, trustworthy online sources, and community forums both on and offline can be helpful.
We emphasize “trustworthy” as there is a vast amount of disinformation on the internet, much of it targeting seniors who may be unfamiliar with this technology. It’s not uncommon for shady organizations to create posts on Facebook, for instance, to draw as much attention to their page as possible. Their goal is views and clicks, regardless of whether what they’re saying is true. It’s always a good idea to factcheck and know where you’re gettin your news.
Register to Vote
You’ll want to make sure you are registered to vote at your current address. If you’ve changed your name or recently moved—for instance, to a senior living community, make sure to check your registration status and update your information.
California offers the option of registering online at this official government site: https://registertovote.ca.gov/. Please note that any website run by the US government ends in “.gov,” not “.com,” “.org,” .net” or any other variation. This is important as you want to make sure the personal information you’re entering is safe and that you are indeed registered.
Vote Early
You may want to consider voting early to avoid long lines and crowds. California offers early voting options, which speed-lines the process. You can view that information and additional information about voting in California at this link.
Voting by Mail
If you would like to vote by mail instead, you can request your ballot ahead of time and drop it off at a designated location. Ballots are received and stored in a secured box, so you can rest assured that your ballot is safe and confidential. This can be a great option for people with disabilities, seniors, or others who may face difficulty voting in person.
Accessibility
If you need them, be sure to take advantage of any accessibility resources that are offered. California by law provides accommodations for seniors and individuals with disabilities, including accessible voting machines. If you require assistance when you arrive at your local polling place, don’t be afraid to ask staff for assistance. Local election offices can also help you if you have questions about the voting process.
Stay Informed
Official election websites are still periodically adding new information as we approach November. Watch for updates on important deadlines and any changes made to the voting process.
As a nation, all of our voices matter! Seniors constitute a large demographic in this country. We hope you’ll exercise your right to be heard by politicians this election season.