Voting in California? Here’s what you can — and can’t — bring with you to the polls

Voting is in full swing for the 2024 presidential election.

Eligible California voters have until 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 5 — Election Day — to cast a ballot.

If you’re planning to vote in person, you may be wondering what you can — and can’t — bring into a vote center.

Can you bring your smartphone into a polling place? What about your child?

What are the rules for wearing a shirt with your favorite candidate’s face on it?

California has several laws dictating what you can wear, say and do near a site where votes are collected.

Here’s what to know before you go:

What can I bring with me to vote in California?

California allows eligible voters to take a variety of non-political items into a polling place, according to the California Secretary of State’s office.

These include:

• A form of identification such as a driver’s license, passport or student identification card. You may be asked to show your ID if you recently registered to vote and failed to provide proper identification.
• A blue or black pen or a Sharpie to make your vote
• Personal notes or a sample ballot

Can I bring my child with me to vote?

Can’t find a babysitter on Election Day?

It’s OK to bring your child or children to a voting center in California if they are under age 18.

Can I bring my phone?

Need to doublecheck candidate information or look up endorsements? Feel free to bring your cellphone with you when you vote.

California has no restrictions against snapping a selfie in the ballot box or taking pictures of your ballot.

You can also shoot a photo of that nifty “I Voted” sticker.

What if I need help voting?

Service animals are allowed at polling places in California to aid voters with disabilities

Voters with disabilities or other accessibility issues can bring along human helpers as well.

What’s banned at polling places and ballot drop boxes?

California has several laws against electioneering near vote centers.

This includes any political activities or intimidation tactics within 100 feet of the entrance of a polling place, curbside voting or ballot drop box, the California Secretary of State’s Office said.

Here are some of the activities that are banned at vote centers in California:

• Asking a person to vote for or against any candidate or ballot measure
• Providing any material or information for or against a candidate or ballot measure
• Circulating any petitions for initiatives, referenda, recalls or candidate nominations
• Speaking to a voter about their eligibility to vote

Can I wear a MAGA hat to vote? A Kamala T-shirt?

Under California law, you’re not allowed to distribute, display or wear a candidate’s name, image or logo within 100 feet of a voting center.

This includes clothing, hats, buttons, signs or stickers.

In other words, leave your Donald Trump T-shirts and Kamala Harris pins at home.

However, so-called MAGA hats are allowed in California polling places.

Although “Make America great again” is a recognizable campaign slogan that Trump started using in 2012, it doesn’t fall under the legal definition of electioneering because it does not show Trump’s name, image or logo, according to Erin Clausen, the public information officer for the San Luis Obispo Clerk-Recorder’s Office.

“If an MAGA hat included (the words) ‘Trump 2024,’ however, that would be considered electioneering,” Clausen said.

Can I bring my gun?

You’re not allowed to bring a gun into a voting site, even if you are licensed to carry a firearm.

This story was originally published November 1, 2024 at 10:25 AM with the headline "Voting in California? Here’s what you can — and can’t — bring with you to the polls."

Hannah Poukish

The Tribune

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Hannah Poukish covers San Luis Obispo County as The Tribune’s government reporter. She previously reported and produced stories for The Sacramento Bee, CNN, Spectrum News and The Mercury News in San Jose. She graduated from Stanford University with a master’s degree in journalism.