10 Things To Do When You Turn 18

Voting is one of the most impactful ways an individual can influence society. Before voting, you should make sure to inform yourself by conducting research using nonpartisan sources and the state-provided voter guide.

16- or 17-year-olds are eligible to pre-register to vote in all elections that take place after they turn 18. The process takes under five minutes, as long as you have all required information easily accessible. You will need to provide your California driver’s license or identification card number, the last four digits of your Social Security number, and your date of birth. From this link, you can also opt in to receiving a ballot by mail.

To register by mail, San Mateo County provides a list of locations, including M-A’s front office, where you can pick up a Voter Registration Form to mail to the San Mateo County Registration & Elections Division.

If you fail to register 15 days before an election, you can pursue Same Day Voter Registration at the polling location where you intend to vote. 

To learn about federal and state-level candidates and ballot measures, explore nonpartisan sites like Ballotpedia or this list provided by San Mateo County. If you conduct your own research, you can check the reliability of your sources using the Media Bias/Fact Check website.

Around two months before the election, the California Secretary of State also sends out a voter information guide with submitted statements by candidates, arguments by those in favor and against ballot measures, and nonpartisan cost projections for certain measures.

Keep an eye out for the M-A Chronicle’s local 2026 Election coverage coming soon.

Click here to register online to vote in California.

Compile or download a complete summary of your medical history.

Most patient health portals or mobile apps require users 18 and older to create a new independent account separate from guardians due to health privacy law. Register and log in to your own account, ensuring you have access to information like billing, prescriptions, vaccination and procedure records, appointment scheduling, and post-appointment summaries written by doctors.

Once you have created your own account and logged in, you can usually sign a form to share your health information and link your account with your guardian again.

When you turn 18, your guardian can no longer make healthcare decisions on your behalf, even if you become incapacitated and unable to decide for yourself. Without your guardian making medical decisions about surgery, treatments, or medications, that responsibility falls to your doctor. A medical power of attorney, also known as an Advance Care Directive in California, returns the decision-making power to a guardian. 

Most medical power of attorney forms in California require witnesses or a person to notarize the documents.

HIPAA waivers are more specific, allowing a specified doctor or medical system to share your health information with your guardian. Usually, a version of the waiver can be provided at a primary care physician’s office. Sometimes, this document requires a notarized signature.

All men, both U.S. citizens and immigrants, ages 18 to 25 are required to register for the Selective Service System (SSS). The SSS is a list of people who, in the case of a military emergency, would be eligible to be drafted.

The registration window goes from 30 days before your 18th birthday to 30 days after. If you miss the deadline, you are still eligible for late registration until you turn 26. Failing to register by age 26 can, in some uncommon cases, lead to legal prosecution. In general, it can inhibit access to state-provided student loans, federal employment, and the U.S. citizenship process for immigrants.

Instead of registering through the SSS website, students can complete the SSS registration form through the FAFSA application for federal student aid, if they plan on attending postsecondary school. Nonetheless, completing registration by the FAFSA deadline is no longer required to receive federal financial aid.

Credit scores become relevant when seeking car and home loans, as lenders want to know that you will reliably pay back the loan. Even if you are a renter in the future, many landlords require a credit check to prove that you can pay consistent rent.

Starting at age 18, you can increase your credit score by paying credit card bills on time and spending under a third of your available credit, a number set by the specific credit card account you sign up for. If you do not pay credit card bills on time, you must pay steep interest on the money you owe the bank, damaging your credit score. In short, demonstrated financial predictability is necessary to open up opportunities to secure larger loans.

At 18, you can apply for an individual credit card, though you will need to show personal income or have a reliable adult co-signer on the card until you are 21. Because you have no past credit history, a secured credit card or student credit card is often the easiest way to get approved. Secured credit cards require you to pay a refundable security deposit in case you spend more than you can pay back via your credit card bill, therefore insulating you from immediate debt and a poor credit score.

You can open a checking account on your own when you turn 18. Individual checking accounts are where you deposit money if you have a job paying you electronically or by check.

Checking accounts are usually connected to a debit card, an ATM card to withdraw cash, and written checks. Debit cards are limited so you can only spend the amount of money sitting in your checking account. 

When looking at different banks and checking account plans, consider their fees, minimum balances (amount of money you must keep in the account to avoid more fees), and convenience in alignment with your lifestyle. While conducting research, look up key words like student and young adult accounts, standard free checking, and local credit unions.

If you have extra money building up in your checking account, consider opening a savings account, which may or may not be with the same bank. Look into high-yield savings accounts, which earn you more money by having a higher yield.

Yield is the percentage of interest you earn on the money in your savings account each year. If you keep $100 at a bank, they will typically pay you an extra $1 to $3 per year (1-3%) in a standard savings account. High-yield savings accounts tend to offer a yield closer to 3-5%, which can add up over time, especially if you add more money to your account throughout adulthood.

Applying for a learner’s permit becomes much easier and less expensive when you are 18 and older. Though you need to complete a knowledge test and submit personal documents to the DMV to get your learner’s permit, you do not need to pay for private driving lessons. Though you are expected to practice for at least 50 hours with a driver over the age of 20, you do not have to wait a full six months to take your driving test out on the road.

By registering to vote or getting a driver’s license in California, you join the list of people eligible for jury duty once you turn 18.

As an adult, you may want to travel outside the U.S.

When you turn 18, you become eligible to apply for a 10-year passport, compared to the 5-year passport as a minor, because adult appearances do not change as quickly. However, you only need to apply for a new passport when your old one is expiring.

Now, people aged 16 and 17 can also apply for a 10-year passport with guardian approval.

Upon turning 18, you are no longer tied to your guardian’s TSA PreCheck and Global Entry memberships at airports. The two programs are not necessary, but they can be useful if you plan on traveling by plane frequently. They enable you to skip long lines at airport security, at immigration upon returning to the U.S., and on roads crossing the border.

The process involves a short online application in under five minutes and an in-person follow-up to confirm documents and take fingerprints and a photo. The in-person visits are located at nearby enrollment centers like Staples and Office Depot and take about 10 minutes to complete. Walk-ins are also available at most locations.

If you got a Global Entry membership as a minor, the personal account carries over into adulthood. You are no longer connected to your guardian’s account as an adult, so you are responsible for renewing the membership every five years.

The process involves creating an account, paying a $120 fee, providing identification documents, and completing an interview at an enrollment center, most likely the San Francisco International Airport (SFO). Citizens of 22 other countries outside of the U.S. are also eligible for Global Entry.

You can apply for your own adult TSA PreCheck account here.

If you do not have a Global Entry account, you can apply here.

Since you gain more legal freedoms as an adult, you will also need to fill out more paperwork. It’s crucial to know where your important documents and passwords are stored securely, in case you need to access them without help from a guardian. 

You should learn where the original copies of legal documents like your birth certificate, Social Security number, passport, and driver’s license reside. Create photocopies and secure digital copies of these documents for consulting information more frequently.

Regarding key accounts, your health insurance, health app logins, and bank account information should be accessible both digitally and as a paper copy kept somewhere safe.