How do I register to vote if I live in Los Angeles?

Register online at the official California portal or complete the mail registration form and submit it to the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk.

What is the deadline to register?

California requires registration to be received by the county 15 days before an election for your registration to be effective for that election.

Can I register by mail?

Yes. Use the official mail voter registration form, sign it, and mail it to the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk address listed on the county registration page.

Register to Vote Online or by Mail in Los Angeles

Elections and Campaign Finance California 3 Minutes Read · published February 02, 2026

Los Angeles, California residents register to vote through the county and state systems. Most local voter registration services, deadlines and administration are handled by the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk and the California Secretary of State. To register online, use the official state portal; to register by mail use the official voter registration form and return it to the county office.^[1]

Who administers registration

The Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk administers voter registration for City of Los Angeles residents and processes mailed registration forms and updates to voter records. The California Secretary of State provides statewide oversight, the statewide online registration portal, and guidance to counties.^[2]

Penalties & Enforcement

False statements on a voter registration application are addressed under California election laws and may result in criminal referral; specific fine amounts and escalation steps are not specified on the cited pages. Enforcement actions, investigations and prosecutions are handled by county election officials in coordination with the Secretary of State and, where applicable, law enforcement.

Knowingly submitting false registration information can lead to criminal investigation.

Fines: not specified on the cited page.
Escalation (first/repeat/continuing offences): not specified on the cited page.
Non-monetary sanctions: cancellation of registration, referral for prosecution or other administrative actions may occur; specific remedies not specified on the cited page.
Enforcer: Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk; complaints and questions directed to the county elections office.
Appeals/review: procedural review routes are handled by county election officials or through court process; specific time limits are not specified on the cited pages.
Defences/discretion: the cited pages do not list specific statutory defences or variances.

Applications & Forms

Available official methods:

Los Angeles County Registrar - registration instructions — use for where to mail forms, county submission addresses and local processing practices.^[1]
California Secretary of State - voter registration guidance — includes statewide deadlines and registration policy information (for example, the 15-day deadline before an election for registration to be effective).^[2]
California Online Voter Registration (RegisterToVote.ca.gov) — official online registration portal; sign, submit and be added to county rolls electronically.^[3]

Mail-in registration must be postmarked or received by the county by the stated deadline to be timely.

Action steps

Check your eligibility and current registration status at the county or state portal.
Register online via the official state site or print and complete the official mail form.
If registering by mail, sign the form and mail it to the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk at the address shown on the county page.
There is no fee to register to vote.

FAQ

How do I register to vote if I live in Los Angeles?: Register online at the official California portal or complete the mail registration form and submit it to the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk. See county and state instructions above.^[3]
What is the deadline to register?: California requires registration to be received by the county 15 days before an election for your registration to be effective for that election, per statewide guidance.^[2]
Can I register by mail?: Yes. Use the official mail voter registration form, sign it, and mail it to the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk address listed on the county registration page.^[1]

How-To

Confirm you are eligible to register (U.S. citizen, resident of California, 18 by election day).
Choose online or mail registration. For online, go to the official portal and complete the form; for mail, print or obtain the official form.
Complete all required fields and sign where required.
If mailing, send the form to the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk address as instructed on the county page.
Check your registration status with the county after 7–14 days to confirm processing.

Key Takeaways

Register at least 15 days before an election for the registration to be effective.
Use the official California online portal or the county instructions to ensure correct submission.
Contact the Los Angeles County Registrar for local questions or problems.