California Voter File

What is the California voter file?

The California voter file is the official statewide list of registered voters maintained by the state election office. It typically includes voter names, addresses, party registration (where applicable), precinct, district, and voting history. Campaigns use it to organize canvassing, phone banking, and mail programs.

How to request the California voter file

Once you have the file, you can import it into a political canvassing tool like Activate to organize volunteers and track outreach.

1. 1Confirm California accepts your requestor type (Candidates for federal/state/local office; committees for/against initiative/referendum measures; any person for election, scholarly, journalistic, or political purposes; any person for governmental purposes as determined by Secretary of State).
2. 2Visit the official California election office request page.
3. 3California accepts a voter-file application from any person for a political purpose under Elections Code § 2194. Your campaign does not have to be the requestor — Activate applies to the Secretary of State, states the political use, and pays the $100 fee, which takes 7-14 business days to review.
4. 4Receive the file and upload it securely to Activate for your campaign.

Eligibility and restrictions

Cost and turnaround

The estimated state fee is $100. Turnaround varies by state and request volume. Delivery may be instant download, email, or physical media depending on the state. Check the official California election office page for the most current timeline.

How Activate can help

Activate can request the California voter file on your campaign's behalf, import it securely, and make it available to your canvassers and phone bankers. No spreadsheet wrangling required.

Frequently asked questions

This page is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Voter file access laws and fees change. Confirm the current procedure with the official state election office before submitting a request.