Feb. 18: Deadline to Register to Vote in March 3 Election

Deadline to Register to Vote in March 3 Election

Tuesday, Feb. 18 is the deadline to register to vote and be eligible to cast a ballot in the March 3 Presidential Primary Election.

This is also the deadline to register to vote for the special election in the 28th state Senate District.

The three Democrats seeking the seat are Elizabeth Romeo of Indio, Joy Silver of Palm Springs, and Anna Nevenic of Palm Springs. Both Silver and Nevenic challenged former state Sen. Jeff Stone for the seat in 2018. Nevenic lost in the primary election on June 5, 2018. Stone ultimately prevailed over Silver and resigned his seat to start work on Nov. 1 as the Western Regional Director of the United States Department of Labor in the Trump administration.

The two Republicans are Assemblywoman Melissa Melendez of Lake Elsinore and John Schwab of Temecula, a real estate broker/small business owner.

Registration applications submitted online here prior to midnight Tuesday will be honored, as will paper forms postmarked by the deadline. Paper applications are available at the Riverside County Registrar of Voters’ office, Department of Motor Vehicles offices, post offices and public libraries.

The registrar’s office, 2720 Gateway Drive in Riverside, will be open from 8 a.m. Tuesday morning until midnight to accept registration forms. The forms contain personal information, so to help ensure confidentiality and that they are received on time, the Registrar of Voters encourages voters to personally deliver or mail completed forms to the registrar’s office, while keeping the deadline in mind.

California residents may register to vote if they are U.S. citizens, at least 18 years old by Election Day, not adjudicated as mentally incompetent and not precluded because of certain criminal convictions. A person must re-register to vote after moving, changing names or changing political party preference.

Call the registrar’s office at (951) 486-7200 if you have any questions about your eligibility to vote.

Special Note: Effective January 1, 2017, Conditional Voter Registration is available to eligible voters in California pursuant to Election Codes 2170 through 2173. Conditional Voter Registration (CVR) extends the existing 15-day registration deadline to eligible voters, allowing them to register and vote 14 days prior to an election through Election Day.