Get up to speed on upcoming elections

With all the changes that have been made to voting in California in the last few years, it's good to know where to find information on the process, the candidates and the ballot measures, both statewide and local.

All California voters will be sent a ballot in the mail by Feb. 5, but voters can choose when, how and where to cast their ballots. Mail ballots can be returned to drop boxes, county election offices, polling places or vote centers and, of course, mailboxes.

To find drop-off locations and operating hours, check the website of your county Registrar of Voters (LAvote.gov, OCvote.gov, elections.sbcounty.gov in San Bernardino County, voteinfo.net in Riverside County).

To receive updates on the status of your ballot, register for the state's Track My Ballot service at wheresmyballot.sos.ca.gov.

For voters who prefer to cast their ballot in person, early voting is an additional option. To find locations, check the county Registrar's website or visit caearlyvoting.sos.ca.gov.

The official deadline to register to vote in the March 5 primary is Feb. 20, but if you miss it, you can register to vote in person at any polling place or vote center, or at your county elections office.

All voters will receive a ballot with all candidates of all parties listed on it, with the exception of candidates for the parties' central committee offices and the presidential candidates. This is where things get tricky for voters who are registered as having No Party Preference (NPP).

Three political parties allow cross-over voting (American Independent, Democratic and Libertarian), meaning NPP voters may request a cross-over ballot for those parties at the polls or in the mail without changing their own voter registration.

Three political parties do not allow cross-over voting (Green, Peace & Freedom and Republican), meaning NPP voters who wish to vote for a presidential candidate in those parties must change their voter registration to the party in which their preferred candidate is running. Voter registrations can be changed online at registertovote.ca.gov or in person at a polling place, vote center or county elections office.

Voter information pamphlets that contain statements from candidates and information about ballot measures are mailed to all voters' households and also can be found online. Check sos.ca.gov and the website of your county registrar and city clerk.