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California

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Last updated: September 13, 2023

Upcoming Election Dates and Registration Deadlines

November 7, 2023

California General Election
Voter Registration Deadline
  • Postmarked by: October 23, 2023
  • In-Person: November 7, 2023
  • Online: October 23, 2023
Mail-in Request Deadline
  • California mails a ballot to every registered voter a few weeks before the election. 
Completed Mail-in Ballot Return Deadline
  • Postmarked: November 7, 2023
  • In-person received: November 7, 2023
  • Post received: November 14, 2023
Early Voting:
  • October 9, 2023 – November 7, 2023
Learn more from California's State government

Helpful Resources

Register
to vote

Check if you are registered

What's on your
ballot

By Mail (Absentee Voting)

Every active, registered voter in California will be mailed a ballot. See info on how to register in California here (available in multiple languages). You may return your voted ballot by:

  1. mailing it to your county elections official;
    • Vote-by-mail ballots that are mailed must be postmarked on or before Election Day and received by your county elections office no later than 7 days after Election Day.
    • If you are not sure your vote-by-mail ballot will arrive in time if mailed, bring it to any polling place in the state between 7:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. on Election Day.
  2. returning it in person to any polling place within the state or the office of your county elections official;
    • Vote-by-mail ballots that are personally delivered must be delivered no later than the close of polls at 8:00 p.m. on Election Day.
  3. dropping your ballot off at a drop-off location or into a ballot drop box within the state; or
    • Vote-by-mail ballots that are personally delivered to a ballot drop-off location must be delivered no later than the close of polls at 8:00 p.m. on Election Day.
  4. authorizing someone to return the ballot on your behalf.
    • Anyone may return your ballot for you, as long as they do not get paid on a per ballot basis. In order for your ballot to be counted, you must fill out the authorization section found on the outside of your ballot envelope.

See details about voting by mail in California.

Early Voting 

Early voting is available in California, but varies based on your county. Please check to see the details of early voting in your county. Early voting typically ends the day before Election Day in most counties.

See details about early voting in your county

See contact info for county elections offices

In-Language Material

APIAVote sent translated mailers to over 1 million AAPI households in order to inform them on how, where and when to vote, in their preferred language. Click the link below to see the mailer sent to California:

California Voter Guide (Chinese simplified & Korean)

California Voter Guide (Chinese simplified & Vietnamese)

California Voter Guide (Vietnamese & Tagalog)

What to Expect
on Election Day

On Election Day, polls are open from 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM. 

Find your polling location.

Voter ID Requirements

If you choose to vote in person and you’ve voted in California before, you don’t need to show ID.

If you’re a first time voter in a federal election who registered by mail, and didn’t include your driver’s license number, California ID number, or the last 4 digits of your Social Security number on your registration, you may be asked to provide ID when you vote.
 
A copy of a recent utility bill, the sample ballot booklet you received from your county elections office or another document sent to you by a government agency are examples of acceptable forms of identification. Other acceptable forms of identification include your passport, driver license, official state identification card, or student identification card showing your name and photograph.
 

Language Access 

Section 203 of the Voting Rights Act requires certain jurisdictions to provide in-language voting materials in areas with a significant number of limited English proficient voters.

Areas in California covered by Section 203 (AANHPI Languages): 

Section 208

Section 208 of the Voting Rights Act states that, “Any voter who requires assistance to vote by reason of blindness, disability, or inability to read or write may be given assistance by a person of the voter’s choice, other than the voter’s employer or agent of the employer or office or agent of the voter’s union.” 

It is your right to bring your own interpreter to the polls, if you so choose. 

Have questions or need help voting?

Call 1-888-API-VOTE (1-888-274-8683).

Bilingual assistance is available in English, Mandarin, Cantonese, Korean, Vietnamese, Tagalog, Urdu, Hindi, and Bengali. Click here for more information.

Asian and Pacific Islander American Vote (APIAVote) is the nation’s leading nonpartisan nonprofit dedicated to engaging, educating, and empowering Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities to strengthen their voices and create impact. For 15 years, APIAVote has been at the forefront of a rising movement to ensure AAPIs are represented and heard, leading to historic voter turnout and advancing equity for AAPI communities.

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