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HomeElections CodeDiv. 14Ch. 3Art. 2§ 14218 Voter Name Change Procedure

§ 14218 Voter Name Change Procedure

Elections Code·California
AI Summary·Official Text·Key Terms·Related Statutes·References
AI SummaryVerified

§ 14218 Voter Name Change Procedure

If you changed your last name after you signed up to vote, you have to sign both your old name and your new name on the voting list, showing they belong to the same person.

Key Takeaways

  • •Sign your old surname and your current surname on the same line.
  • •Use brackets or another clear mark to show the two names belong to one person.
  • •Only needed when your last name changed after you first registered to vote.

Example

Jane Doe gets married and becomes Jane Smith, then goes to the polling place to vote.

When Jane signs the voter list, she writes "Doe (Smith)" or "Doe [Smith]" so the clerk knows it's the same person who registered as Doe.

AI-generated — May contain errors. Not legal advice. Always verify source.

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 14218 Voter Name Change Procedure

If the surname of any person offering to vote has been changed since the person has registered, the person shall sign his or her name as it was before the change and also the appropriate name as it is at the time the person votes, indicating on the roster on the same line by brackets or other means that the two names are the name of one person. (Enacted by Stats. 1994, Ch. 920, Sec. 2.)

Last verified: January 10, 2026

Key Terms

surnamechangedregisteredsignrosterbrackets

Related Statutes

  • § 14216 Voter Signature Requirements
  • § 14223 Voter Roster Access Rules
  • § 11220 Recall Petition Filing Deadlines
  • § 11221 Recall Signature Requirements
  • § 11222 Petition Filing Requirements

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Elections Code. Section 14218.
View Official Source