Where do I vote? Am I registered to vote? Does everyone get a ballot in the mail? Get the answers to your election day questions ahead of California’s June 2 primary election.
What if I have special circumstances?
- What should I do if I marked my ballot wrong, or otherwise messed it up?
- What if the signature on my ballot doesn’t match the one on file?
- What happens if I don’t receive my ballot?
- Help! I dropped off my ballot to a drop box in the wrong county.
- I forgot to detach the stub from my ballot. Can I open the sealed envelope and reseal it myself?
How do I vote?
Does everyone get a ballot in the mail?
Yes. Under state law, vote-by-mail ballots are sent to every active registered voter.
When will I receive my mail-in-ballot?
Counties will begin mailing ballots May 4.
How do I return my mail-in ballot?
- Mail it to your county elections office; to be counted, ballots have to be postmarked on or before June 2 and received by election offices by June 9.
- Drop it off at a ballot drop box, vote center or polling location anywhere in the state.
- Ask someone you trust to do it for you, but that person can’t receive payment for doing it.
Can I vote in person? Where is my polling place or vote center?
Yes, although mailing your ballot as soon as possible is the best way to get your vote counted fast. You can find out where to vote in the following ways:
- Check online
- Text “VOTE” to GOVOTE (468-8683)
- Call the secretary of state’s hotline at (800) 345-VOTE
- Check your county Voter Information Guide, or contact your county elections office
If you live in one of 30 counties, you’ll have increased options, including as many as 10 days of in-person early voting.
How do I register to vote?
Am I registered to vote?
You can check the secretary of state’s website: You’ll need to enter your name, date of birth and either your California driver license, identification card number or the last four digits of your Social Security number. If you don’t have those available, contact your county elections office or the secretary of state via email or phone at (800) 345-8683.
If you’ve changed your name since the last time you voted, or if you moved and didn’t notify the Department of Motor Vehicles or U.S. Postal Service, you may have to register again. If you haven’t voted in several consecutive general elections, your registration may have been canceled.
How do I register?
You can do so online here. You’ll need the same information as above.
If the DMV has your signature on file, you’ll be able to complete the process online. If not, you’ll need to print, sign and mail your completed application to your county elections office. You can also pick up a paper application at elections offices, any DMV office and at many post offices, public libraries and government offices. You’ll be contacted when your application is approved, or if you need to provide more information.
What happens if I miss the voter registration deadline?
The last day to register online for the primary election is May 18. If you are registering or re-registering less than 15 days before May 18, you must complete same-day voter registration and request your ballot in person at your county elections office or polling location.
How do I change my political party if I’m already registered?
You’ll need to re-register to vote.
What if I need help with voting?
What if I need voter information in a language other than English?
The secretary of state’s office has voter instructions in the following languages: Spanish, Hindi, Chinese, Japanese, Khmer, Korean, Tagalog, Thai and Vietnamese. Your county elections office may offer additional languages.
When will I receive my voter guide?
The statewide voter information guide will be available online by April and will be mailed to voters later that month.
What am I voting on?
The June primary election is the first opportunity for Californians to choose which candidates will appear on the general election ballot in November. Unlike some other states, California’s primaries are nonpartisan, so the top two vote-getters in each race will advance to the November election, regardless of political party.
The ballot is packed with state and federal races, most notably the race to succeed Gov. Gavin Newsom, who is term-limited and cannot run for reelection. In addition to the governor’s race, voters will be asked to choose candidates for Congress, the state Legislature and a slate of statewide offices including insurance commissioner and treasurer.
Can I leave work to vote?
Yes. California requires time off for voting if employees don’t have enough time outside work hours. You can take as much time as you need, but employers are only required to pay for a maximum of two hours.
Employers may require advance notice. The time off must be at the beginning or the end of your shift. Employers are required to post a notice about this 10 days before a statewide election.
How can I track my ballot?
Register for California’s BallotTrax tool, where you can check your ballot status and opt in to receive email or text notifications.
Is my ballot safe?
Yes, voting by mail or dropping your ballot in an approved drop box is a safe and efficient way to vote. Fraudulent voting is uncommon and incredibly difficult given California’s strict voter verification procedures. Mail-in ballots will only be sent to voters whose address and identity have been verified by county election officials. Their vote will only be counted once those officials verify that the voter’s signature on the envelope matches the one on file.
You can find more information about California’s election and voting process on the secretary of state’s website. The office takes any allegations of election fraud seriously. Anyone can submit a complaint using this form.
What if I have special circumstances?
What should I do if I marked my ballot wrong, or otherwise messed it up?
If you haven’t turned it in yet, you can exchange your mail ballot for a new one at an elections office, ask an election official at the polling place for a new ballot, or vote using a provisional ballot. If you have mailed or turned in your ballot, there’s no way to fix it. Contact your county elections office for a new ballot.
What if the signature on my ballot doesn’t match the one on file?
County election officials check the signatures on the return envelope against signatures on your voter registration card to make sure no one tries to improperly cast your ballot. It still remains confidential; the ballot is separated from the envelope before it is counted.
Voters with ballots with missing signatures or ones that don’t match are notified and given an opportunity to correct the problem before the election is certified.
What happens if I don’t receive my ballot?
Contact your county elections office.
Help! I dropped off my ballot to a drop box in the wrong county.
Don’t worry – the county will pass it on to the correct elections office.
I forgot to detach the stub from my ballot. Can I open the sealed envelope and reseal it myself?
You can, but the secretary of state’s office recommends contacting your local county elections office. They’ll ultimately be processing your ballot, and they can offer the best guidance on whether you should reopen it or just leave the stub attached.