California’s 2026 general election calendar — the deadlines voters need

California’s November 3 general election is entering the part of the calendar where dates matter. The state voter guide begins arriving in late September, ballots follow in early October and the standard registration deadline lands 15 days before Election Day.

County election officials must begin mailing vote-by-mail ballots to active registered voters no later than October 5. Early voting also begins that day, and counties must open ballot drop-off locations by October 6, according to the Secretary of State’s election calendar.

October 19 is the last day to register online or have a paper registration postmarked under the ordinary process. Missing that date does not end a voter’s options. Conditional voter registration is available from October 20 through November 3 at county election offices and voting locations.

The first vote centers in counties operating under the Voter’s Choice Act open October 24. Other in-person options vary by county, so a voter should confirm the location and hours through the state’s early-voting directory or the local county elections office before traveling.

Mailed ballots must be postmarked on or before November 3 and received by the county elections office no later than November 10. The Secretary of State advises voters returning a ballot close to Election Day to use an official drop box, voting location or county elections office if timely mail processing is uncertain.

A returned ballot can also be tracked. California’s Where’s My Ballot service provides email, text or voice notifications, while My Voter Status shows registration and ballot information. Those state tools are the authoritative place to verify an individual record.

Election-night totals are not final results. Counties begin reporting after polls close at 8 p.m. on November 3, then continue verification and canvassing. County officials have until December 3 to certify their results, and the Secretary of State’s certified Statement of Vote is scheduled for December 11.

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