Secretary of State Debra Bowen is reminding Californians to register to vote by Oct. 20 so they can weigh in on important issues on the Nov. 4 General Election ballot.

Postmarks do count for mailed registration applications. Voter registration closes 15 days prior to any California election.

A person must re-register to vote after moving, changing names or changing political party preference.

Eligible Californians can register online at RegisterToVote.ca.gov or get a paper application at local libraries, post offices, California Department of Motor Vehicles offices, and other government offices. Voter registration applications are available in English, Spanish, Chinese, Hindi, Japanese, Khmer, Korean, Tagalog, Thai and Vietnamese.

“Registering to vote is one of the easiest and most important things you can do in a democracy,” said Secretary Bowen, California’s chief elections official. “Don’t give up your voice by not voting. Register by Oct. 20 so that you can weigh in on proposed changes to our laws and decide who leads our government.”

Voter registration records are maintained at county elections offices. The Secretary of State offers Californians a convenient web portal for checking their own voter registration status at www.sos.ca.gov/elections/registration-status.

For more information about registering to vote, visit www.sos.ca.gov/elections/elections_vr.htm.