County elections officials mail vote-by-mail ballots to all active registered voters about a month before the election. You can choose whether to vote in person at your voting location or return the ballot you received either by mail or by dropping it off.
Vote-by-mail ballots must be postmarked by Election Day or dropped off in-person by polls close on Election Day.
WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO VOTE BY MAIL?
In California, all active registered voters will be mailed a vote-by-mail ballot.
WHEN ARE BALLOTS MAILED TO ACTIVE REGISTERED VOTERS?
Ballots are mailed 29 days before an election.
HOW DO I COMPLETE MY MAIL BALLOT?
After you’ve marked your ballot, insert your ballot in the envelope provided. Make sure to sign the envelope by the red “X,” print your address, and date the back of the return envelope. Your signature must match the signature on your voter registration card.
If you are unable to sign your name on the return envelope, make an X or distinguishing mark by the red “X” on the return envelope, or have someone print your name on the return envelope and sign as a witness.
Watch How to Return Your Completed Vote-by-Mail Ballot.
HOW CAN I RETURN MY MAIL BALLOT?
You can return your vote-by-mail ballot by mail or in person.
By Mail: If you wish to use the mailed ballot instead of voting in person, fill it out and mail it back early, so that it is postmarked no later than Election Day. You do not need a stamp to mail back your ballot in the return envelope provided.
In Person: You may drop off your ballot at any voting location in your county. Your county will also open secure ballot drop-off locations starting about a month before Election Day. Ballots returned at a secure ballot drop box must be deposited by 8pm on Election Day.
To vote in person on Election Day, the polls are open from 7 am to 8 pm. You may also be able to vote in person before Election Day. Learn more about early voting options using the state’s resource page.
WHAT IS THE DEADLINE TO SUBMIT MY MAIL BALLOT?
Your vote-by-mail ballot must be postmarked by Election Day or dropped off in person at any polling place or a ballot drop-box by polls close on Election Day.
Anyone may return your ballot for you, as long as they don’t 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.
CAN I TRACK MY MAILED BALLOT?
You can track the status of your vote-by-mail ballot by visiting the My Voter Status website or the Where’s My Ballot website.
WHAT IS THE DEADLINE TO UPDATE MY MAILING ADDRESS TO RECEIVE A VOTE-BY-MAIL BALLOT?
The deadline to update your address is 15 days before Election Day.
HOW DO I GET A REPLACEMENT VOTE-BY-MAIL BALLOT?
If you don’t receive your ballot in the mail, you’ve lost or destroyed your original ballot, or you’re unable to vote in person at the polls, you may apply for a replacement ballot using this form or by contacting your County Elections Office.
HOW DO I SUBMIT A LATE VOTE-BY-MAIL REQUEST?
If you would like to request a vote-by-mail ballot after 7 days before the election, you will need to apply in person at your county elections office. Your county elections office may allow you to apply over the phone; please call them to see if your office allows telephone applications.
CAN I VOTE IN PERSON EVEN IF I HAVE RECEIVED A VOTE-BY-MAIL BALLOT?
Yes! Even if you receive your vote-by-mail ballot, you can still vote at a polling place on Election Day as long as you haven’t returned your vote-by-mail ballot yet. Bring your unused vote-by-mail ballot to your local polling place anytime between 7:00 am and 8:00 pm on Election Day and give it to a poll worker, who will exchange it for a polling place ballot you can use instead.
If you do not bring your vote-by-mail ballot with you, you will not lose your opportunity to vote at a polling place on Election Day. If the poll worker is able to verify that you have not returned your voted ballot, then you will be given a regular ballot. If not, a poll worker will provide you with a provisional ballot, which will be counted after your county elections official has confirmed you are registered to vote in that county and did not vote more than once in that election.
HOW DO I RECEIVE A BALLOT BY MAIL AS AN OVERSEAS OR U.S. MILITARY VOTER?
Overseas citizens and US military personnel need to be registered as a military or overseas voter by completing the California Online Voter Registration (COVR) application. For more information, please visit the Overseas Vote Foundations’ website.
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