Californians are receiving mail-in ballots and you can vote anytime up until Election Day on November 4th. Just complete your ballot, seal it, and put it back in the mail—no stamp needed. If you’d rather not mail it, you can return it to a ballot drop box or polling location in your county. Remember to sign the envelope and send it in.
Use this page for information you need to make sure your vote counts.
How can I vote in this election?
All registered voters will receive mail-in ballots. You can also vote in person at a voting center or polling place.
How do I check my voter registration status?
Visit VoterStatus.sos.ca.gov for info on your voter registration status.
How can I get updates on the status of my ballot?
- Mail your ballot to your county elections official — no postage required
- Vote-by-mail ballots that are mailed must be postmarked on or before Election Day and received by your county elections office no later than 7 days after Election Day.
- If you are not sure your vote-by-mail ballot will arrive in time if mailed, bring it to any polling place in the state between 7:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. on Election Day.
- Sign-up at https://voterstatus.sos.ca.gov/ to receive automatic email, SMS (text), or voice call notifications about your ballot. This will tell you if your ballot has been mailed, received, and counted.
How do I find a dropbox for my ballot?
You can find a dropbox to deposit your ballot on the Secretary of State’s website after mid-August: https://caearlyvoting.sos.ca.gov/ or by contacting your local county elections office: https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/polling-place
What do I do if my ballot is damaged or lost?
Contact your county elections office: https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voting-resources/county-elections-offices to apply for a new ballot. Applications must be received by county officials 7 days before an election.
How can I get help in other languages?
The Secretary of State offers voter information and assistance in English and nine more languages. Select Spanish, Chinese, Hindi, Japanese, Khmer, Korean, Tagalog, Thai or Vietnamese. For voter assistance in your language, call one of the toll-free Voter Hotlines: https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voting-resources/voting-california/voter-hotlines.
How do I find a polling place or voter center to vote in person?
You can find your polling place on the Secretary of State’s website after mid-August: https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/polling-place or by contacting your local county elections office: https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voting-resources/county-elections-offices. We recommend you bring your ballot with you if you plan to vote in person.
Additional Important Information
Anyone may return your ballot for you, as long as they do not get paid on a per ballot basis. In order for your ballot to be counted, you must fill out the authorization section found on the outside of your ballot envelope.
More information here: https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/where-and-how