How to Vote by Mail
In California all registered voters will be sent a mail-in ballot they can choose to use or not.
To verify online that you are registered to vote in California you can click here.
Some counties allow you to verify if you are registered to vote by phone. To see find your county’s phone number click here.
Once you receive your ballot you may return your voted ballot by…
- mailing it to your county elections official;
- 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 17 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.
- returning it in person to a polling place or the office of your county elections official;
- Vote-by-mail ballots that are personally delivered must be delivered no later than the close of polls at 8:00 p.m. on Election Day.
- dropping your ballot into one of your county’s ballot drop boxes (find them here); or
- Vote-by-mail ballots that are personally delivered to a ballot drop-off location must be delivered no later than the close of polls at 8:00 p.m. on Election Day.
- authorizing someone to return the ballot on your behalf.
- 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.
Interested in early voting?
Some counties in California offer early voting at a few locations before Election Day. Contact your county elections office to see if they offer early voting. County contact information can be found by visiting the Secretary of State’s website at: www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voting-resources/county-elections-offices.
Need more assistance?
Call our National Tech Hotline at 920-666-1959.
