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Elections & Voting

Use these tools to become an informed voter

Photo by Glen Carrie on Unsplash: white letter squares spelling out "vote"

Where do you fit in? Conservative? Liberal? In-between?

Vote-By-Mail Now Permanent in California, But You Still Have In-Person Options! The Legislature passed AB 37 in 2021, which ensures every active registered voter will be sent a vote-by-mail ballot with the option to return their ballot by mail, in person, or at a secure drop box. (Note: the state no longer refers to vote-by-mail ballots as absentee ballots.) 

Monday, February 5, 2024: All California active registered voters will receive a vote-by-mail ballot for the March 5, 2024, Presidential Primary Election. Your county elections office will begin mailing ballots by February 5, 2024.

Tuesday, February 6, 2024: Ballot drop-off locations open on February 6, 2024.

Tuesday, February 20, 2024: In California, the deadline to register is 15 days prior to Election Day. For 2024, Election Day is Tuesday, March 5, 2024--so the last day to register to vote is Tuesday, February 20, 2024. (To check your voter registration status visit MyVoterStatus.) 

Saturday, February 24, 2024: Vote centers open for early in-person voting in all Voter’s Choice Act counties beginning on February 24, 2024. Stanislaus and Merced counties are Voter's Choice Act counties; San Joaquin County is not. 

Tuesday, March 5, 2024: Election Day: Vote in-person at your polling place. Vote-by-mail ballots can be returned by mail, at a drop-off location, or your county elections office. Vote-by-mail ballots must be postmarked on or before Election Day and received by March 12, 2024.

Provisional Voting: Eligible citizens who need to register or re-register to vote within 14 days of an election can complete this process to register and vote at their county elections office, polling place, or vote center. Their ballots will be processed and counted once the county elections office has completed the voter registration verification process.

Early/Same-Day Voting: Visit caearlyvoting.sos.ca.gov for a list of early voting locations where you can complete the Same Day Voter Registration Process. Need to register on Election Day? Use the polling place lookup tool to find your local polling location.(Note: these tools are active pending the receipt of information from local elections offices. They may not yet be ready for use.)

Registration Tools