With Election Day less than six weeks away, we’re highlighting key dates you should keep in mind as you prepare to vote in the general election Nov. 5.
Below is a guide that will help you remember when mail-in ballots go out, as well as the last day to register to vote and how to, if necessary, request a replacement mail-in ballot for Election Day.
Remember, you don’t have to wait until Nov. 5 to vote. You can do it as early as Oct. 8, when ballot drop-off locations open in California.
And, any L.A. County voter can visit the Los Angeles County Registrar Recorder/County Clerk headquarters in Norwalk, at 12400 Imperial Highway, to vote early in-person or drop off their completed ballot. The headquarters is available for early voting 29 days prior to every election.
Oct. 7: Mail-in ballots go out
This is the date when county election offices begin to mail vote-by-mail ballots, according to the California Secretary of State. Voting by mail is an option for all registered voters who choose not to cast their vote at a vote center on Election Day.
It’s safe, accessible, and an option that many voters prefer, according to election officials. Make sure you are registered to vote in order to receive your mail-in ballot. All registered voters will receive a vote-by-mail ballot at the address they listed when registering.
Curious when you’ll receive your ballot? You can actually track it, using the WheresMyBallot tool.
You can return your ballot by:
- Dropping it off at a mailbox. It must be postmarked on or before Election Day and received by your county elections office, in this case the Los Angeles County Registrar Recorder/County Clerk, no later than seven days after Election Day.
- Dropping it off at a vote by mail ballot drop box location or at any vote center leading up to or on Election Day no later than 8 p.m. In L.A. county, you can find your nearest drop-off locations by going to locator.lavote.gov.
- Authorizing a trusted individual to drop off your ballot as long as they don’t get paid for dropping it off. There is a section found outside the ballot envelope where you can write the person who will be dropping it off.
Oct. 21: Last day to register online to vote
Heads up! If you have not yet registered to vote, you can do so by visiting registertovote.ca.gov. The last day to register in California is Oct. 21. You can also request a paper application at your county elections office, local library, DMV, or U.S. postal office. The application is available in multiple languages including, English, Spanish, Chinese, Hindi, Japanese, Khmer, Korean, Tagalog, Thai, and Vietnamese.
Unsure if you’re registered, you can check your registration status here. If you have changed your address or think you provided the wrong address while registering, you can contact your local county elections office.
Oct. 26: Select vote centers open
Vote centers will open on this day for early in-person voting in all Voter’s Choice Act counties. A list of locations are not yet posted, but will be listed on locator.lavote.gov.
Oct. 29: Last day to request a replacement mail-in ballot
If you made a mistake on your mail-in ballot, you can request a replacement mail-in ballot by filing an application on or before Oct. 29. You can find the replacement application here.
A replacement application can only be filed by the registered voter.
Your replacement application may be returned to your county elections official or mailed directly to the county elections official.
Nov. 5: Last day for mail-in votes to arrive at county election offices and same-day voter registration for Election Day
This is the last day election officials can receive mail-in votes at county election offices.
And, if you missed the voter registration deadline, you may conditionally register to vote and cast a provisional ballot by visiting your county elections office, a vote center, or a designated satellite location 14 days prior to, and including on Election Day on Nov. 5, according to the California Secretary of State.
Your registration becomes permanent and your provisional ballot will be counted once the county elections official determines your eligibility and validates your information. For more information, visit same day voter registration.
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