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Empowering the Homeless to Vote
Here’s How the Process Works
In Sacramento County, election officials are encouraging homeless residents to take advantage of their rights.
“We just want to make sure that people know that this option exists,” said Janna Haynes, a spokesperson for Sacramento County, which recently issued a news release explaining how the process works. “We want to do everything we can to give them the opportunity to vote.”
Relatively few unhoused residents are registered to vote in the county compared with their overall numbers. The county’s most recent count in 2019 found 5,500 people were experiencing homelessness, though those numbers are expected to increase after this year’s count.
But election officials have mailed only about 450 ballots to unhoused residents, mainly those who live at shelters or use a service provider’s address, Haynes said. Officials are encouraging unsheltered homeless people to register and vote at any county voting center by submitting a general location such as a park or a nearby intersection as their address.
“We can issue them a ballot in their name, in that specific precinct so that they can cast a ballot for the election,” Haynes added.
Listing “Cesar Chavez Plaza” or “Fremont Park” would be sufficient for people who live at those Sacramento locations, she said.
The same process applies in Yolo County where elections staff provided this guidance for unhoused residents:
“If you are unsheltered or homeless, you only need a description of where you live,” the county’s election website states. “If you do not have a street address, provide an exact description, including cross streets. If applicable, identify the corner or area where you live. For instance: ‘Northwest corner of 1st St and Court St.’'
The Secretary of State’s Office issued a fact sheet in 2020 reminding the public that Californians experiencing homelessness have the right to vote. You can find contact information for election offices in all 58 counties here.
Historically, voting rights have been tied to the possession of personal property, according to Samantha Abelove, a program manager at the California Voter Foundation. But the law “never actually stated that unhoused [people] could not vote and a ruling by the California Court of Appeals in 1985 proved that to be true,” she wrote in an email.
“This ruling, along with several other rulings around the same time, seem to be pivotal in changing the narrative around who was able to vote,” Abelove added.
Bob Erlenbusch, director of the Sacramento Regional Coalition to End Homelessness, said it’s important to encourage unhoused people to vote.“It allows homeless people to participate as equals in the political system and to have a small say around those who are elected who make decisions that directly impact them,” Erlenbusch wrote in an email. “Especially around policies of criminalizing them on one end of the spectrum or policies that can end and prevent homelessness on the other end.”
“We just want to make sure that people know that this option exists,” said Janna Haynes, a spokesperson for Sacramento County, which recently issued a news release explaining how the process works. “We want to do everything we can to give them the opportunity to vote.”
Relatively few unhoused residents are registered to vote in the county compared with their overall numbers. The county’s most recent count in 2019 found 5,500 people were experiencing homelessness, though those numbers are expected to increase after this year’s count.
But election officials have mailed only about 450 ballots to unhoused residents, mainly those who live at shelters or use a service provider’s address, Haynes said. Officials are encouraging unsheltered homeless people to register and vote at any county voting center by submitting a general location such as a park or a nearby intersection as their address.
“We can issue them a ballot in their name, in that specific precinct so that they can cast a ballot for the election,” Haynes added.
Listing “Cesar Chavez Plaza” or “Fremont Park” would be sufficient for people who live at those Sacramento locations, she said.
The same process applies in Yolo County where elections staff provided this guidance for unhoused residents:
“If you are unsheltered or homeless, you only need a description of where you live,” the county’s election website states. “If you do not have a street address, provide an exact description, including cross streets. If applicable, identify the corner or area where you live. For instance: ‘Northwest corner of 1st St and Court St.’'
The Secretary of State’s Office issued a fact sheet in 2020 reminding the public that Californians experiencing homelessness have the right to vote. You can find contact information for election offices in all 58 counties here.
Historically, voting rights have been tied to the possession of personal property, according to Samantha Abelove, a program manager at the California Voter Foundation. But the law “never actually stated that unhoused [people] could not vote and a ruling by the California Court of Appeals in 1985 proved that to be true,” she wrote in an email.
“This ruling, along with several other rulings around the same time, seem to be pivotal in changing the narrative around who was able to vote,” Abelove added.
Bob Erlenbusch, director of the Sacramento Regional Coalition to End Homelessness, said it’s important to encourage unhoused people to vote.“It allows homeless people to participate as equals in the political system and to have a small say around those who are elected who make decisions that directly impact them,” Erlenbusch wrote in an email. “Especially around policies of criminalizing them on one end of the spectrum or policies that can end and prevent homelessness on the other end.”
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Eligible Californians of all backgrounds — including those experiencing homelessness — can vote in the upcoming election. Election officials are encouraging homeless residents to register and vote using general locations, such as parks or intersections, as their address. By doing so, unhoused individuals can receive ballots and participate in elections. Similar procedures are followed in Yolo County, ensuring that homelessness does not disqualify someone from voting. This initiative helps include marginalized communities in the political process, empowering them to have a voice in decisions that directly affect their lives.
Eligible voters can still register through October 21, 2024. To take part, Californians must be 18 or older, a U.S. citizen and live in the state.
Every Vote Counts
Every Vote Counts
SAFE-HOME REGISTER TO VOTE
Safe at Home is a confidential address program administered by the California Secretary of State's Office and is most effective when used as a part of an overall safety plan. Safe at Home offers a substitute mailing address to receive first class, certified, and registered mail for victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, human trafficking, and elder or dependent adult abuse, as well as reproductive health care workers and public entity employees who are in fear for their safety. This address is also accepted by California state, county, and city government agencies in lieu of a residential or other mailing address where a victim can be tracked down, keeping the residence address confidential and out of the hands of someone who might want to harm the victim.Since the program began in 1999, Safe at Home has helped protect thousands of victims and reproductive health care workers. Please take the time to explore the website to see if you or someone you know may benefit. If you have any questions about our services, feel free to contact us directly. Email: SafeAtHome@sos.ca.gov Call toll-free: (877) 322-5227
If You Miss the Cut-Off Date of October 21st 2024 To Register to Vote You can Still Vote
If you would like to help us, please consider donating by following the Fund Me link. We need funds to rent transportation, not just for election day but also to provide transportation to the DMV and other government offices. Any amount, no matter how small, will help us reach our goal.