California · Voter Guide
Registration, polling places, and mail ballots — the official California links in one place, plus nonpartisan research on everyone who will be on your ballot.
Links verified against official state sources · reviewed June 12, 2026
Deadlines and ballot rules are set by the state and can change — these portals are the authoritative source, so we send you there rather than restating rules that might go stale.
California's own portal — registration status, deadlines, and same-day rules.
Where to vote for your registered address, straight from the state.
Mail/absentee ballot rules, early voting, and the official election calendar.
Our 50-state registration check, with links to fix anything that looks wrong.
Enter your ZIP to load every race and candidate you can vote on.
Source-backed profiles for every seat, from Congress to local offices.
The basics of registering and voting in California.
Register through California's official election authority — the link on this page goes straight to the state's own portal. Deadlines and same-day registration rules are set by the state, so confirm them there. You can check your registration status through California's official lookup, linked on this page, or use our registration check.
The next election we're tracking in California is Tuesday, November 3, 2026 (California judicial elections (general election retention/contests as applicable)). The nationwide general election is Tuesday, November 3, 2026.
Your polling place depends on your registered address. Use California's official polling-place lookup, linked on this page, or our polling place finder. Many states also offer early voting locations or vote centers that differ from election-day sites.
Mail and absentee rules differ by state — some mail every voter a ballot automatically, others require a request, and a few require an excuse. California's election authority (linked on this page) is the authoritative source for how it works where you live, including request deadlines.
Your exact ballot depends on your address. Enter your ZIP code on our My Ballot page to see your specific races and candidates, or browse every California contest on our California hub — every profile is built from public records with a source link on each claim.
Knowing where to vote is half the job. Knowing every name on the ballot — what they have done, who funds them, where they stand — is the other half.