Assistance and Witness Guidelines
You have the right to vote for the candidates of your choice. No one should help you with your ballot, unless you cannot read the language written on the ballot or unless you have a disability that makes you unable to write or to see. If one of these conditions applies to you, we recommend that you ask a family member or trusted friend for assistance with your ballot.
Your vote is secret. It is a crime for that person to reveal how or for whom you voted. The person assisting you must mark your ballot according to your instruction and cannot suggest how you should vote.
If a person assists you with reading or marking your ballot, deposits your Carrier Envelope in the mail or delivers your ballot to a common or contract carrier, that person MUST sign the written Oath of Assistance that is part of the certificate on your Carrier Envelope, and include a printed name, residence address, relationship to you and whether he or she received or accepted any form of compensation or other benefit from a candidate, campaign, or political committee in exchange for providing assistance.
Consequences for Improper Assistance
If you receive assistance when completing your Mail Ballot person MUST sign the written Oath of Assistance that is part of the certificate on your Carrier Envelope, and include a printed name, residence address, relationship to you and whether he or she received or accepted any form of compensation or other benefit from a candidate, campaign, or political committee in exchange for providing assistance Failure of the assistant to provide this information is a crime unless the person is one of certain close relatives of the voter or physically living in the same dwelling, and may result in your ballot being rejected. The offense is a state jail felony.
If anyone attempts to pressure or intimidate you, we urge you to report this to our office, your district attorney, or the Secretary of State’s office at 1-800-252-VOTE (8683).