Voting
How can I vote a vote-by-mail ballot?
Any registered voter may vote by a "vote-by-mail" ballot by:
- Applying in writing to your county elections official; or
- Completing the vote-by-mail ballot application that is included in your sample ballot, which
your county elections official will mail to you prior to each election; or
- Downloading and completing a vote-by-mail ballot application
from our website.
When may I apply for a vote-by-mail ballot?
You must apply for a vote-by-mail ballot at least 7 days before an election.
When is the last day to return my voted vote-by-mail ballot?
Vote-by-mail ballots must be received by the elections official no later than the close
of polls at 8:00 p.m. on Election Day.
How do I turn in my vote-by-mail ballot on Election Day?
You may return it in person to any polling place in your county or to the county elections
office on Election Day. If, because of illness or physical disability, you are unable to return the
ballot yourself, you may designate a spouse, child, parent, grandparent, grandchild, sibling,
or a person residing in the same household to return the ballot to the elections
official or the precinct board at any polling place within the jurisdiction. The ballot
must be received by the elections official or the precinct
board before the close of the polls at 8:00 p.m. on Election Day in order to be counted.
Can anyone distribute vote-by-mail ballot applications?
People and organizations may distribute vote-by-mail ballot applications, provided they use the uniform format specified in
the California Elections Code and submit a Vote-By-Mail Voting application form.
Where is my polling place?
Your polling place location will be printed on the sample ballot you receive from
your county elections official prior to an election. You may also
contact your local county elections office for polling place information. Approximately one month prior to all primary and
general elections, the Secretary of State's office will have a polling place lookup feature on this website.
What hours are polling place locations open?
All polling place locations are open on Election Day from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
How do I find out what my legislative and congressional districts are?
You may contact your county elections official or go to "Who Are My Representatives?" here on the Secretary of State's website.
Why was my precinct/polling place changed?
Counties try to use the same polling place for each election, so
your polling place normally does not change between the primary and the general
elections. If the county is conducting smaller local elections where the turnout is likely to be lower, the county may consolidate
precincts into fewer polling places.
You can always determine where your polling place is by looking at the back of your
sample ballot, which you will receive from your county elections official. The back cover
contains the name and address of your polling place. You can also call your
county elections official, to find out where
your polling place is located.
You also have the option of applying, to your county elections official, for
permanent vote-by-mail voter status. For each election in which you are eligible to vote,
your county elections official will automatically send you the appropriate ballot. All
you will need to do is vote, provide the required information, and return the voted
ballot to your county elections office by close of the polls at 8:00 p.m. on Election
Day. For more information on how to apply for permanent vote-by-mail voter status, please see our Permanent Vote-By-Mail Voting webpage.
Why am I in a mail ballot (vote-by-mail) precinct?
Elections Code section 3005 provides that people who live in precincts with fewer than 250 voters may
be sent vote-by-mail ballots.
Upon receiving a vote-by-mail ballot, all you need to do is vote for the contests on the
ballot, provide the required information, and mail the voted ballot back to your county
elections office. It must be received in your county elections office by the close of
the polls at 8:00 p.m. on Election Day.
If you cannot mail your voted vote-by-mail ballot to your county elections office, you can
cast your voted ballot at any polling place in your county by the close of the polls at
8:00 p.m. on Election Day. To determine the location of a nearby polling place, you
can contact your county elections official.
Is there a toll-free telephone number I can call regarding voter information?
Yes. The Secretary of State has established a toll-free hotline for requests for
voter registration forms and other election materials and to report suspicions of voting or registration irregularities.
The number is (800) 345-VOTE.
Are election returns for state offices on your website?
The election results from past statewide elections can be found at Election Results and Dates.
What can be done to increase voter participation?
The Secretary of State's office has been working with a wide range of groups throughout the state to increase voter participation. We are always looking for better ways to reach out and engage citizens in the voting process. Our Voter Education and Outreach webpage will provide you with information on some of the programs and events we are currently working on.
Propositions
How and when are numbers assigned to state propositions?
State propositions are generally numbered between 131 and 105 days before an election and are numbered in 10-year cycles starting with the number "1," according to Elections Code section 13117. The current numbering cycle starts with the November 4, 2008, General Election.
How can I learn more about California's statewide initiative process?
The Secretary of State's Statewide Ballot Initiative Handbook contains some very useful information on this topic.
How many signatures does it take to qualify a statewide initiative?
The number of signatures required for initiative statutes must be equal
to at least 5% of the total votes cast for Governor at the last gubernatorial
election. The number of signatures required for initiative constitutional
amendments must be equal to at least 8% of the total votes cast for Governor at the
last gubernatorial election.
When is the deadline for initiatives to qualify for the ballot?
Measures have to qualify by 131 days before the election.
Running for Office
What requirements must a person meet to run for office?
These requirements are specific to the office and are posted on our
Candidate Information webpage.
When do candidates have to file their various official documents in order to
become certified for the next statewide election cycle?
Please see our Candidate Information webpage for information on candidate filing deadlines.