Skip to content
Democracy SENTRY
Voting in your state

Voting in California, 2026

Every date and deadline for the November 3 general election, from registering to the final certificate, and who signs off on the result.

Right nowEarly voting is open in California through Monday, November 2.Election Day in 7 days

Every date, in order

  1. Sat, Oct 24 · passed
    Early voting begins
  2. Mon, Nov 2 · 6 days
    Early voting ends
    Early in-person voting runs from Saturday, October 24, 2026 through Monday, November 2, 2026. The vote centers open for early in-person voting in all Voter’s Choice Act counties on October 24. In-person early voting locations throughout California will be open on Saturday, October 31.Dates and hours may vary by county.1
  3. Tue, Nov 3 · 7 days
    Election Day; Registration deadline
    The regular deadline is Monday October 19, 2026, and after that voters can conditionally register and vote at the county elections office or a polling place through Election Day.2
  4. Tue, Nov 10 · 14 days
    Mail ballots must arrive
    Mail ballots postmarked by Election Day count if received by Tuesday November 10, 2026, and drop box ballots are due by 8 p.m. on Election Day.2
  5. Thu, Dec 3 · 37 days
    County/Local canvass; County/Local certification
    Counties must complete their canvass no later than 30 days after the election, by December 3.3
  6. Fri, Dec 11 · 45 days
    State canvass; State certification
    The statewide canvass must be complete no later than the 38th day after the election, December 11.3
  7. After certification
    Deadline to contest the result
    A contest must be filed within 30 days after the results are declared.4

Questions people ask about voting in California

Q. When does early voting end in California?

Early in-person voting runs from Saturday, October 24, 2026 through Monday, November 2, 2026. The vote centers open for early in-person voting in all Voter’s Choice Act counties on October 24. In-person early voting locations throughout California will be open on Saturday, October 31.Dates and hours may vary by county.

Q. When is the deadline to register to vote in California?

The regular deadline is Monday October 19, 2026, and after that voters can conditionally register and vote at the county elections office or a polling place through Election Day.

Q. What is the last day to request a mail ballot in California?

Every active voter is mailed a ballot, and voters who need it sent to a different address should apply by Tuesday October 27, 2026.

Q. When does my mail ballot have to arrive in California?

Mail ballots postmarked by Election Day count if received by Tuesday November 10, 2026, and drop box ballots are due by 8 p.m. on Election Day.

Q. Who certifies the election in California, and by when?

The county clerk or registrar of voters receives the ballots and compiles and publishes the county results. Counties must finish the canvass no later than 30 days after the election, December 3, 2026. The Secretary of State receives the county results, prepares the statewide canvass and certifies it. The Secretary of State certifies the results on or before the 38th day after the election, December 11, 2026.

Q. What happens after the count in California, and when is there a recount?

There is no automatic recount. Any voter may request one within 5 days following the 31st day after the election. The voter must pay for it unless the recount changes the winner.

Q. How long is there to contest an election in California?

A contest must be filed within 30 days after the results are declared.

Explore this issue

OverviewVoting in your state In depthVoting in Arkansas, 2026 In depthVoting in Arizona, 2026 In depthVoting in Alaska, 2026 In depthVoting in Alabama, 2026

Sources

  1. sos.ca.gov, https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections
  2. Vote.org, California Election Center, https://www.vote.org/state/california/
  3. NCSL, Canvass Deadlines, https://www.ncsl.org/elections-and-campaigns/canvass-deadlines
  4. NCSL, Contested Election Deadlines, https://www.ncsl.org/elections-and-campaigns/contested-election-deadlines
  5. nass.org, https://www.nass.org/node/2455
  6. Bolts, Who counts our elections, https://boltsmag.org/whats-on-the-ballot/who-counts-our-elections/
  7. NCSL, Election Certification Deadlines, https://www.ncsl.org/elections-and-campaigns/election-certification-deadlines

Ask

Have a question about voting in California?

Ask it here. If we do not have the answer yet, we will find it.