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California

Student-friendly residencyNo-excuse absentee
Next election
California General Election
Nov 3, 2026
57
days away

Key dates for the California General Election

From California's official election information, last reviewed Jul 25, 2026. VoteU is an independent nonpartisan project, not a government site, so confirm anything time-critical on the official page below.

Election day, voter registration deadline, and absentee ballot request deadline for the California General Election
Election dayNov 3, 2026 (57 days away)
Register to vote byOct 19, 2026 (42 days away)
Request an absentee ballot byOct 27, 2026 (50 days away)

The absentee date above is the deadline to request a ballot. The deadline to return a completed ballot is set separately by California and is not tracked here. See how to request an absentee ballot as a student.

Register to vote
Official California portal
California Secretary of State
All official election info

VoteU Guide

Deadlines for registering to vote in California, straight from our data

Hey! I can help you figure out whether you can register to vote in California, what the deadlines are, and how to sign up. Try one of these:

Nonpartisan, and only quotes deadlines from VoteU's data. For legal edge cases, check with your county election office.

Upcoming elections

GeneralCA57 days away

California General Election

Nov 3, 2026

Statewide general election for Governor and every statewide office. California mails a ballot to every active registered voter, so you do not need to request one. The Oct 27 date only applies if you want it sent somewhere other than your registered address, like a campus mailbox, or you need a replacement. Two citizen initiatives are certified so far; more measures may still qualify.

GovernorAll statewide officesU.S. House (all 52 districts)State Legislature
On the ballot
  • Voter Identification & Citizenship Verification Initiative
    Constitutional amendment requiring government-issued photo ID for in-person voting and an ID number when voting by mail. Certified for the ballot; proposition number not yet assigned.
  • Two-Thirds Vote for Local Special Taxes Initiative
    Raises the vote needed to pass citizen-initiated local special taxes from a simple majority to two-thirds, and restricts charter-city real estate transfer taxes. Certified for the ballot; proposition number not yet assigned.
Register by
Oct 19, 2026 (42d)
Absentee by
Oct 27, 2026
+ CalendarRegister →

Past elections

These already happened, kept for reference. Everything actionable is under upcoming elections above.

PrimaryCalifornia
California Statewide Direct Primary
Jun 2, 2026 · past

Voting from campus in California

California is flagged in VoteU's dataset as generally allowing students to register at their campus address. Confirm your own situation on the official page above.

Can I vote where I go to college?
What the law says about registering at a campus address
Campus address or home address?
A side by side comparison, and how to switch
How do I request an absentee ballot?
Five steps, plus the request deadline for every state
Can I use my student ID to vote?
The federal floor, and where to find your state's list