How to vote in California

Registration deadlines, ID, mail and early voting in California, in plain English, with the official links. The California Secretary of State, Elections Division is the final word on every rule.

Check your registration Register online Official election office
Register online Yes: Submitted electronically 15 days before Election Day.
Register by mail Postmarked (or hand-delivered to your county elections office) at least 15 days before Election Day.
Register in person 15 days before Election Day; after that, use same-day (conditional) registration.
Same-day registration Yes: after the 15-day deadline, register conditionally and vote a provisional ballot at your county elections office, a vote center or a polling place, through Election Day.
Voter ID In most cases no ID is required; some first-time voters who registered by mail without an ID number may be asked to show ID (photo not required).
Voting by mail Every active registered voter is mailed a ballot; it must be postmarked by Election Day and received within 7 days.
Early voting In-person early voting at county sites, which can open as early as 29 days before Election Day (varies by county).
Statewide elections in 2027 No statewide election is listed for 2027; the next statewide ballot measures listed are for March 7, 2028.

Checked against the California election office's website on November 8, 2026. Deadlines are for general elections; primaries, runoffs and local elections can differ. Military and overseas voters have their own rules at FVAP.gov.

Official sources

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