California votes on Tuesday, November 3, 2026. The state will choose a new governor to replace Gavin Newsom, who is out of office this year, with Democrat Xavier Becerra and Republican Steve Hilton on the ballot. Voters will also decide 14 state propositions, and all 80 Assembly seats plus 20 State Senate seats are up. Here’s what you need to know about the dates, where to vote, and where to get help. nbcbayarea

Key dates and deadlines

Early October: ballots go out. County elections officials will begin mailing ballots on or before October 5, 2026. Every active registered voter in California gets a vote-by-mail ballot. In Orange County, ballots will be mailed starting no later than Monday, Oct. 5, and 128 ballot drop boxes open that same day, available 24/7 through 8 p.m. on Nov. 3. SOS Official Voter Information Guide

October 19: registration deadline. You must register online or have your mailed form postmarked by October 19, 2026. Missed it? You can still register and vote conditionally at your county elections office or a voting location through Election Day. sos.ca.gov vote411

October 24: first vote centers open. Vote centers open for early in-person voting in all Voter’s Choice Act counties on October 24, and in-person early voting locations across California will be open Saturday, October 31. sos.ca.gov

October 27: recommended date to request a replacement ballot. The Secretary of State recommends October 27 as the date to apply for a replacement vote-by-mail ballot. sos.ca.gov

Mailing your ballot. To be sure your ballot is postmarked in time, mail it at least 7 days before Election Day. If you mail it on November 3 itself, get a manual postmark from a postal employee inside a post office. sos.ca.gov

November 3: Election Day. Polls are open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Ballots delivered in person must arrive by close of polls; mailed ballots must be postmarked on or before November 3 and reach your county elections office by November 10. vote411 sos.ca.gov

After the election: fixing signature problems. If there’s a missing or mismatched signature on your ballot envelope, officials will contact you, and you have until 5 p.m. two days before your county certifies the election to fix it. Certification happens no sooner than 28 days after Election Day. vote411

Ways to vote

• By mail: Sign the envelope by the red “X,” print your address, and date it; your signature must match your registration. No stamp is needed. vote411
• Drop box: Drop boxes are secure, locked structures where you can leave your ballot any time of day or night. vote411
• At a vote center: You can drop off your mail ballot or vote in person. If you haven’t returned your mail ballot, you can still vote in person — bring it to exchange, and if you forget it, you’ll get a regular or provisional ballot depending on whether staff can confirm you haven’t voted. vote411
• Someone else returns it: Anyone can return your ballot for you as long as they aren’t paid per ballot, and you fill out the authorization section on the envelope. vote411

ID: Most California voters don’t need to show ID. The exception is first-time voters in a federal election who didn’t provide a driver’s license or Social Security number when registering. vote411

Source: Orange County Registrar of Voters. According to the Registrar’s public notice, 39 vote centers open countywide on October 24, and another 152 open Saturday, October 31. ocvote ocvote

Find a location:

• Vote centers: ocvote.gov/votecenter
• Drop boxes: ocvote.gov/dropbox
• Anywhere in California: caearlyvoting.sos.ca.gov lists vote centers and drop boxes for every county.

The Registrar’s main office is at 1300 S. Grand Ave., Bldg. C, Santa Ana, 92705, and you can reach them at (714) 567-7600 or (888) OCVOTES. ocvoteuci

Why drop boxes matter: in this year’s primary, 43.2% of returned mail ballots went into drop boxes, 40.2% came by mail, and over 16% were dropped off at vote centers. mynewsla

Voter resources

• VOTE411 California (League of Women Voters): state rules, a personalized ballot lookup, and a “make your voting plan” tool.
• Check your registration — My Voter Status from the Secretary of State.
• Register to vote — online registration through October 19.
• Where’s My Ballot? — get text, email, or voice alerts when your ballot is mailed, received, and counted.
• Official Voter Information Guide — nonpartisan info on candidates and all statewide propositions.
• Easy Voter Guide — plain-language explanations of state measures.
• Accessibility: Remote accessible vote-by-mail lets you mark your ballot independently with your own compatible technology at home, and curbside voting is available at many locations. vote411
• Hotlines: California Secretary of State: (800) 345-VOTE (8683). VoteRiders ID help: call or text 844-338-8743. To report a problem: 1-866-OUR-VOTE, 1-888-VE-Y-VOTA (Spanish), 1-888-API-VOTE (Asian languages), and 1-844-YALLA-US (Arabic). vote411
• Time off work: California employers must give time off to vote if you lack enough nonworking time while polls are open; up to two hours is paid, and you must notify your employer at least two working days ahead. vote411

Quick checklist

• Confirm your registration before October 19.
• Watch for your ballot starting October 5 and sign up for Where’s My Ballot.
• Pick your method: mail it by October 27, use a drop box, or vote at a vote center.
• Read the Official Voter Information Guide or your VOTE411 ballot preview.
• Get it in by 8 p.m. on November 3.