A Guide to Catholic Voting
The Church encourages Catholics to exercise their rights and responsibilities as active participants in the American democracy, offering guidance through teaching documents, state voter guides and statements from their local bishops.
The Church does not endorse any candidate. However, the Church does ask Catholics, as faithful citizens, to make their election decisions based on a properly formed conscience, based on Catholic social teaching.
The U.S. bishops caution that their teachings should not be used selectively to serve partisan interests.
In 2020, the Church launched a campaign called “Civilize It,” which asks Catholics to pledge to be civil and compassionate when they engaged in political conversations with members of their families, parishes and other communities. Four years later, with another presidential election looming, this calling is more relevant than ever.
The 2024 presidential Election
General Voter Information
San Diego County Registrar of Voters
https://www.sdvote.com/
Imperial County Registrar of Voters
https://elections.imperialcounty.org/
2024 Election Information
Election Day is Tuesday, November 5. California mails a ballot to every registered voter in San Diego County will receive a ballot in the mail the week of October 6, 2024. Be sure to mail it back or drop it at a designated drop-box by November 5. You can also vote in person. California offers early voting at certain sites.
Registration deadlines
Online: October 21 at https://covr.sos.ca.gov/
Voting deadlines
Every active registered voter will automatically receive a ballot in the mail. Ballots will begin to go out on October 6.
Return ballot by mail (postmarked by): November 5
Return ballot in person: November 5 by 8 p.m.
Discipleship in Voting
Resources
U.S. Catholic Conference
- Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship - This statement represents the Catholic Church’s guidance for the faithful in the exercise of their rights and duties as participants in our democracy.
- Formando la Consciencia para ser ciudadanos fieles - Este documento representa la guía de la Iglesia Católica para los fieles al ejercer sus derechos y deberes como participantes en nuestra democracia.
California Catholic Conference
- Faithful citizenship resources.
- The importance of public participation for Catholics.
- La importancia de la participación pública para los católicos.