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California Elections Calendar - 2025 and 2026

General Election - November 3,2026​

November General election is held the Tuesday after the first Monday of the month of November

Poll Hours: 7:00 AM-8:00 PM

November General Election Election's Important Dates:
October 5, 2026 All-Mail voting begins: Early voting start times vary by county. In general, early voting starts 29 days before Election Day. .
October 6, 2026 Voting By Mail Ballot Return Starts: All vote by mail ballot drop-off locations shall be open at least during regular business hours beginning not less than 28 days before the day of the election.
October 19, 2026 Voter Registration Deadline In Person: You must be registered to vote at least 15 days before Election Day..
October 19, 2026 Voter Registration Deadline By Mail, Fax or email attachment: Pick up a paper voter registration application at any Department of Motor Vehicles field office, and many post offices, public libraries, and government offices, or request one from your county elections office.
To receive a voter registration application by mail from the Secretary of State, call the toll-free Voter Hotline at (800) 345-VOTE (8683 .
October 19, 2026 Voter Registration Deadline Online: Online registration deadline is 15 days before Election Day. If you are enrolled in California's confidential address program, Safe At Home, please do not apply to register to vote using the online option. Contact the Safe At Home program toll-free at (877) 322-5227 or by the Safe At Home email - http://www.sos.ca.gov/registries/safe-home/ .
October 20, 2026 Voter registrayion begins for new residents: Registration for new residents and new citizens shall be in progress beginning with the 14th day prior to an election.
October 27, 2026 Voter registration ends for new residents: Registration for new residents and new citizens shall be in progress beginning with the 14th day prior to an election and ending on the seventh day prior to election day. Otherwise, the deadline to register to vote is at least 15 days before Election Day..
November 3, 2026 Voting By Mail Ballot Retun Deadline: All vote by mail ballot drop-off locations shall be open during regular business hours on Election Day.
November 3, 2026 All-Mail voting ends: Early voting end times vary by county. In general early voting ends on Election Day. .
November 3, 2026 Election Day Voter Registration Deadline: Same Day Voter Registration is available to Californians who miss the deadline to register to vote or update their voter registration information for an election. A new citizen is eligible to register and vote at the office of, or at another location designated by, the county elections official at any time beginning on the 14th day before an election and ending at the close of polls on the election day following the date on which that person became a citizen. .

NOTES​

This page contains dates and deadlines information on elections occurring in California

Election dates,voter registration deadlines,early voting, absenstee voting, and voting hours apply to statewide elections in most cases. However, Check with your Town Clerk for the hours of voting, and voter registration deadlines as they vary by town. Please be advised that these dates are updated regularly but are subject to scheduling changes at the local level.

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