Voter Registration

Register to Vote

Election Dates and Deadlines to Register to Vote

General Election: November 3, 2026

The last day to register to vote for the November 3, 2026, Special Election is October 19, 2026.
All California active registered voters will receive a vote-by-mail ballot for the November 3, 2026, General Election.
Your county elections office will begin mailing ballots by October 5, 2026.
Secure ballot drop-off locations open on October 6, 2026.
Ballots can be dropped off at a drop-off location, county elections office, or returned by mail.
In person early voting locations throughout California will be open on Saturday, October 31, 2026.
November 3 is the last day to vote in-person or return a ballot by 8:00 p.m. Polls are open from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Vote-by-mail ballots must be postmarked no later than November 3. If mailing on Elections Day, get a hand-stamped postmark from a postal employee inside a United States Post Office.
COMPTON COLLEGE is a voting center October 31 and November 1-2 , from 10am to 7pm and November 3 from 7am to 8pm in the Multipurpose Room.
Same Day Voter Registration (Conditional Voter Registration) is available October 20 - November 3, 2026

For more information on voter registration and voting locations, contact your local county elections office.

Registration Information

We want to encourage all eligible Californians to register to vote and cast a ballot. The California Secretary of State's Office makes it easy to register online at RegisterToVote.ca.gov, which is available in 9 languages.

Not Sure If You Are Already Registered?

You can check your registration status online at voterstatus.sos.ca.gov. You can also contact your local county elections office or simply register online to ensure your county has your most up-to-date information.

New To Voting? Get Started With 3 Easy Steps.

Register. You can register to vote online at RegisterToVote.ca.gov.
Get informed! As a registered voter you will receive two information resources in the mail: the state Voter Information Guide and the county Voter Information Guide.
Vote! You can vote in person or by mail. Find out more at www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voter-registration/vote-mail.

Find Your Polling Place

Any registered voter in California can decide whether to vote at a polling place or vote by mail. Your polling place location may change between elections. The address of your polling place is on the back page of the sample ballot booklet that your county elections official mailed to you. You can also find your polling place by calling your county elections office or the Secretary of State's Voter Hotline at (800) 345-8683, or visit www.sos.ca.gov/elections/polling-place. You can also text VOTE to GoVote (468-683) to find your polling place.

What Time Does My Polling Place Open?

Polls are open in California from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day. At your polling place, you will check in with a poll worker who will explain the process of casting your ballot. The poll worker will give you a paper ballot, unique passcode, or computer memory card, depending on the voting system your county uses. If you are not familiar with how to mark a ballot or make a mistake on your ballot, ask a poll worker for instructions.

Can Military and Overseas California Residents Still Vote?

Of course! The Secretary of State's office recommends that military and overseas voters start early and get registered to vote online at RegisterToVote.ca.gov to ensure they receive their voting materials on time. This includes persons and students who are temporarily living outside of California but still wish to vote in California elections. For more information visit: www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voter-registration/military-overseas-voters.

How to Vote by Mail

Each active registered voter will receive a vote-by-mail ballot, allowing them to vote safely and conveniently. Fill out the vote-by-mail ballot application in your county Voter Information Guide, find one at www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voter-registration/vote-mail, or contact your county elections office. To ensure your ballot is postmarked by Election Day make sure to mail it at least five days before Election Day, November 3, 2026. If mailing on Election Day, get a hand-stamped postmark from a postal employee inside a United States Post Office. You may also deliver your voted ballot to your county elections office, a ballot drop-off location, or any polling place before 8 p.m. on Election Day.