California: Election Tools, Deadlines, Dates, Rules, and Links

As always, it's best to double check with your state for any recent changes to election rules: California Election Website

COVID-19 info for California

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in California, California Official Resource

California special election

The California Gubernatorial Recall Election is Tuesday, September 14, 2021.
The recall ballot will ask two questions: 1) do you want to recall Governor Newsom? and 2) If the governor is recalled, who do you want to replace him?
- If 50% or more vote NO, the governor would remain in office.
- If more than 50% vote YES, the governor would be removed from office and the person with the most votes on Question 2 would replace him.
If you’re registered to vote in California, you will receive a ballot in the mail. You can also check your registration here. If you aren’t registered you can still register in-person on Election Day at most polling places, county elections offices, and vote centers.
If you’ve already received a ballot, return your ballot by mail (postage is prepaid) by September 14, or take it in person to a ballot drop box, to a voting location or your county elections office by 8:00 p.m. on September 14, 2021.
Find your local polling place or ballot dropbox at vote.org/polling-place-locator.

California voter registration

- In Person: 15 days before Election Day.
- By Mail: Postmarked 15 days before Election Day.
- Online: 15 days before Election Day.
If the voter registration deadline has passed, you can still conditionally register to vote and cast a provisional ballot in person at your County Elections Office at any time up to and including Election Day. You can also conditionally register at your polling place on Election Day. Your provisional ballot will be counted when your County Elections Official verifies your voter registration.
Conditional registration may also be available in County Elections satellite offices and vote centers.
To register in California you must:
- Be a citizen of the United States;
- Be a resident of California;
- Be at least 18 years of age at the time of the next election;
- Not currently be serving a state or federal prison term for the conviction of a felony; and
- Not currently be judged mentally incompetent by a court of law.
1. Use our Register to Vote Tool to fill out the National Voter Registration Form.
2. Sign and date your form. This is very important!
3. Mail or hand-deliver your completed form to the address we provide.
4. Make sure you register before the voter registration deadline.

California absentee ballots

- In Person: If you need to change where your ballot is mailed, your application should be received by the 7th day before Election Day.
- By Mail: If you need to change where your ballot is mailed, your application should be received by the 7th day before Election Day.
- Online: N/A
1. Use our Absentee Ballot Tool to prepare your application.
2. Sign and date the form. This is very important!
3. Return your completed application to your Local Election Office as soon as possible. We'll provide the mailing address for you.
4. All Local Election Offices will accept mailed or hand-delivered forms. If it's close to the deadline, call and see if your Local Election Office will let you fax or email the application.
5. Double-check the deadlines and be sure to cast your voted ballot on time to be sure it is counted.
6. Please contact your Local Election Office if you have any further questions about the exact process.
1. Once you receive the ballot, carefully read and follow the instructions.
2. Sign and date where indicated.
3. Either mail your voted ballot back to the address indicated on the return envelope; personally drop your ballot at drop box; or bring your ballot to a polling place.
4. Double-check the deadlines to be sure to cast your voted ballot on time to be sure it is counted; your ballot must be postmarked no later than Election Day or returned to a drop box or polling place by 8:00 P.M. on Election Day.

California Early Voting

California voter ID

If you're not voting for the first time in California, you don't need to show ID to vote.
If you're a first-time voter, you are voting in a federal election, you registered by mail, and didn't include your driver's license or California ID number or the last 4 digits of your Social Security number on your registration, you may be asked to provide ID if you vote in person.
Acceptable forms of ID include a current and valid photo ID that includes your name and photograph. Examples:
- Driver's license or ID card of any state
- Passport
- Employee ID card
- ID card provided by a commercial establishment
- Credit or debit card
- Military ID card
- Student ID card
- Health club ID card
- Insurance plan ID card
- Public housing ID card
You can also use any of the following documents that includes your name and address as long as the document is dated after November 3, 2020:
- Utility bill
- Bank statement
- Government check
- Government paycheck
- Document issued by a governmental agency
- Sample ballot or other official elections document issued by a governmental agency dated for the upcoming election
- Voter notification card issued by a governmental agency
- Public housing ID card issued by a governmental agency
- Lease or rental statement or agreement issued by a governmental agency
- Student ID card issued by a governmental agency
- Tuition statement or bill issued by a governmental agency
- Insurance plan card or drug discount card issued by a governmental agency
- Discharge certificates, pardons, or other official documents issued to you by a governmental agency in connection with the resolution of a criminal case, indictment, sentence, or other matter
- Public transportation authority senior citizen and disabled discount cards issued by a governmental agency
- ID documents issued by governmental disability agencies
- ID documents issued by government homeless shelters and other government temporary or transitional facilities
- Drug prescription issued by a government doctor or other governmental health care provider
- Property tax statement issued by a governmental agency
- Vehicle registration issued by a governmental agency
- Vehicle certificate of ownership issued by a governmental agency
If you're not voting for the first time in California, you don't need to provide a copy of your ID with your absentee ballot.
If you're a first time California voter who registered by mail and you didn't provide your driver's license or California ID number or the last 4 digits of your Social Security number when you registered, you'll need to provide a photocopy of one of the following forms of ID along with your mail ballot:
- A copy of a current photo ID showing your name and photograph
- A copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document that shows your name and address

Offsite links

State Election Website
Local Election Office: This is the government office responsible for running elections in your region. Theses are the best people to contact if you have any questions at all about voting in your state.
Find your polling place
Absentee ballot tracker tool
Learn more about absentee voting
Learn more about early voting
Learn more about voter ID
State Election Code

California: Election Tools, Deadlines, Dates, Rules, and Links

Locate your polling place→

Find early voting locations→

Locate a dropbox→

Track your ballot→

Check your registration→

Register to vote→

Vote by mail→

Get election reminders→

Pledge to register→

COVID-19 info for California

California special election

California voter registration

California absentee ballots

California Early Voting

California voter ID

Offsite links

Additional VOTE.org links

California: Election Tools, Deadlines, Dates, Rules, and Links

Locate your polling place→

Find early voting locations→

Locate a dropbox→

Track your ballot→

Check your registration→

Register to vote→

Vote by mail→

Get election reminders→

Pledge to register→

COVID-19 info for California

California special election

California voter registration

Voter registration deadlines

Election day registration

Voter registration rules

How to register to vote in California

Registering with felony status

California absentee ballots

Absentee ballot application deadlines

Voted absentee ballots are due

Absentee ballot rules

How to get an absentee ballot in California

Once you get your absentee ballot in California

California Early Voting

Early voting starts in California

Early voting ends in California

California voter ID

In-person voter ID requirements

Absentee voter ID requirements

Offsite links

Additional VOTE.org links