We are excited to announce that 16- and 17-year-olds in Berkeley and Oakland can participate in the 2024 School Board Elections. This historic opportunity is the result of Measure Y1 in Berkeley (approved in 2016) and Measure QQ in Oakland (approved in 2020). As part of our ongoing commitment to voter engagement and education, the Alameda County Registrar of Voters is here to support youth voters in understanding the process and ensuring their votes count.
Every eligible pre-registered youth voter will receive a Vote by Mail Ballot before the election, which can be returned by mail, at a 24-hour ballot drop box, or in-person at our office and any voter center.
Your voter registration will automatically become active on your 18th birthday. You will no longer be a pre-registered youth voter and will be eligible to vote on federal, statewide and local contest.
Berkeley youth voters will have the chance to vote for school directors. Depending on the specific election, you may vote for two or more candidates. Be sure to carefully fill in the oval next to your chosen candidates.
Important Voting Instructions:
Ballot Return Options:
Oakland school board elections use Ranked-Choice Voting (RCV), which allows you to rank up to five candidates in order of preference. If no candidate wins a majority of first-choice votes, votes for eliminated candidates will be transferred to the second-choice candidates, and so on.
Important Voting Instructions:
Ballot Return Options:
Step 1: Register to Vote:
Every eligible 16- and 17-year-old in Berkeley and Oakland who pre-registers will automatically receive a Vote by Mail Ballot. You can check your voter registration status by logging into your Voter Profile or by contacting our office by calling 1-800-834-6454.
Step 2: Preparing to Vote:
We encourage you to review your Voter Information Guide, research the candidates, and understand your ballot. You’ll find information on candidates and issues in the guide, and you can learn more about Oakland’s Ranked-Choice Voting system if applicable.
Step 3: Voting Methods:
You have three options for casting your vote:
Vote by Mail: Ensure your ballot is postmarked by November 5, 2024, and received by our office by November 12, 2024.
24-Hour Drop Boxes: Open county-wide from October 7, 2024, until 8:00 p.m. on Election Day.
In-Person Voting: You can vote early at the Alameda County Registrar’s Office starting October 7, 2024, and continuing through Election Day.
Alameda County offers a "Where’s My Ballot?" tracking tool so you can check the status of your Vote by Mail Ballot by logging into your Voter Profile.
If you didn’t register before the deadline, you can still register and vote on the same day at the Alameda County Registrar of Voters' Office. This is called conditional voter registration, and it ensures that your vote will be counted once your registration is verified.
We provide a variety of accessibility services, including:
Remote Accessible Vote By Mail (RAVBM): Voters with disabilities can mark their ballots online using assistive devices and print the completed ballot to return by mail. Access your RAVBM Ballot by logging into your Voter Profile.
Ballot Marking Devices (BMDs): Available at in-person at the Registrar of Voters' Office, these devices support voters with visual, auditory, or motor skill limitations.
Curbside Voting: Available for voters with mobility challenges at the Registrar’s Office.
List of Resources: