When is the upcoming election?
Tuesday, November 4th
Who is eligible for a mail-in ballot?
Every active registered voter in California receives a vote-by-mail ballot (with prepaid return envelope) from their county elections office. You may choose to vote by mail even if you normally vote in person.
How do I complete and return my mail-in ballot?
Mark your ballot per the instructions. Seal it inside the official return envelope. Sign and date the outside of the envelope. Your signature should match what’s on file. Return it via one of these methods:
- By mail (postmarked by Election Day, received by county within 7 days)
- At a secure ballot drop box by 8:00 p.m. on Election Day
- In person at a polling place, vote center, or county elections office by 8:00 p.m. on Election Day.
What are the deadlines & postmark rules?
Mail-in ballots must be postmarked on or before Election Day to be counted. The county elections office must receive it within 7 days after Election Day. Drop boxes / in-person returns must occur by 8:00 p.m. on Election Day.
Because of recent United States Postal Service (USPS) changes, if a community is more than 50 miles from a regional mail processing center, ballots mailed on Election Day may not receive a same-day postmark and thus could be rejected.
To make sure your vote counts, Attorney General Rob Bonta says to mail your ballot early or use a secure drop box.
Can I vote in person if I already requested a mail-in ballot?
Yes. You have a few options: Bring your mail-in ballot (unused) to your polling place and exchange it for an in-person ballot. Or, submit it in the envelope as directed and vote in person. If you don’t bring your mail ballot, you can cast a provisional ballot.
What if I lose my ballot, never get one, or make a mistake?
You may request a replacement vote-by-mail ballot through your county elections office. If the signature envelope is missing or signature mismatch, many counties allow a “cure” process (you can supply or confirm your signature) so your ballot isn’t rejected.
How can I track my ballot status?
Sign up for
Where’s My Ballot? at the SOS site to receive updates via text/email/voice when your ballot is mailed, received, and counted.
Why is it risky to mail on Election Day?
Because of USPS policy changes, in some regions ballots mailed on Election Day may be postmarked a day late, which would invalidate them (since only ballots postmarked on or before Election Day are valid).To avoid this risk, do not wait until Election Day to mail your ballot. Use a drop box or deliver in person as early as possible.
