Registration deadline approaches

The election is Nov. 7 and the deadline to register as a voter is near.

If you are a United States citizen, a resident of California, not in prison or on parole for conviction of a felony, and will be 18 years of age on election day, you can register to vote. Although it's too late to register online, you can still call or visit your county elections office or call the Secretary of State's tollfree voter hotline number at (800) 345VOTE to receive application information.

Mail-in forms are available at county buildings, city halls, libraries, fire stations, post offices and motor vehicle offices.

Your completed registration form should be received at the county elections office at least 15 days before the election, which is this Mon., Oct. 23.

Your county sample ballot provides the location of polling places and who your local and state legislative candidates are.

Absentee voter applications must be received by the county elections office by Oct. 31, and in order to be counted, your ballot must be received by the elections office no later than 8 p.m. on election day.

The election day polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

More voter information is also available online at www.voterguide.ss.ca.gov. Another good online source for 2006 voter information is www.smartvoter.org, the website for the League of Women Voters.