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Politics

How To Vote In The Recall Election If You Missed The Registration Deadline

A worker with a face mask and gloves sorts through mail-in ballots at the San Diego County Registrar of Voters in this photo taken Oct. 16, 2020.
KPBS Staff
A worker with a face mask and gloves sorts through mail-in ballots at the San Diego County Registrar of Voters in this photo taken Oct. 16, 2020.

Californians eligible to vote in the Sept. 14 gubernatorial recall election can still cast ballots, even if they missed Monday’s deadline for registration. That's because of a 2019 law that allows conditional voter registration all the way up until election day.

Voters have to complete a conditional voter registration form in person at the San Diego County Registrar of Voters office at 5600 Overland Ave. in Kearny Mesa. Starting Sept. 11, they can also complete the process at any of the county's 221 in-person voting locations.

How To Vote In The Recall Election If You Missed The Registration Deadline
Listen to this story by Andrew Bowen.

Voters can then cast provisional ballots, which are only counted once the voter's eligibility is verified.

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RELATED: What To Know About Gov. Newsom’s Sept. 14 Recall Election

So far more than 490,000 voters have cast ballots in the recall election — more than the roughly 436,000 votes received at this point in the 2020 presidential election. San Diego County has about 13,800 more registered voters now compared to Election Day last year.

A conditional voter registration card is seen here.
A conditional voter registration card is seen here.

Conditional voter registration isn't just for people who were not previously registered to vote. It's also for registered voters who have moved, changed their name or want to change their party affiliation.

RELATED: A Closer Look At Four Top Candidates In The Recall Election

Even 17 year olds whose 18th birthday is Sept. 14 or earlier can pre-register to vote and cast their ballot on election day.

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The recall ballot contains two questions: First, should Gov. Gavin Newsom be removed from office? The second question is who should replace Newsom if a majority votes "yes" on the first question. Even voters who oppose the recall can choose a back-up candidate if they wish.

If the recall succeeds, the replacement candidate with the most votes becomes governor.