Key Dates and Deadlines for Voters in California's Midterm Election This November

Leading up to Nov. 8, voters should know the deadlines to register to vote and mail in their ballot for the California general election.

California residents cast their vote
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Races for state, county and local offices are on the ballot in the 2022 California general election on Nov. 8.

The following timeline details the process from beginning to end: from getting information on voting to Election Day.

Click here to check your voter registration status.

Read on to find out when, where and how you'll be able to vote for candidates for the U.S. Senate, governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, attorney general, U.S. representative in Congress and more.

Sept. 29: Voter Information Pamphlets Sent

Californians will receive election guides from their county elections officers after this date.

Oct. 8: Mail-In Ballots Sent

County residents received their mail-in ballots in the days following. San Diego County residents can look at a sample ballot here. Click here to find a ballot-dropoff location near you.

Oct. 10: Early Voting Begins

County residents can start casting their ballots in-person at the county registar of voters office at 5600 Overland Ave., in the city of San Diego, Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Also: Ballot dropoff locations open on this date.

Oct. 24: Voter Registration Deadline

All registered voters can visit a county elections office to request a vote-by-mail ballot. You can check your registration status by following this link. By this date, registered voters should also update their voter registration information.

Oct 25: Conditionally Register to Vote Deadline

San Diegans who missed the deadline the day before can still conditionally register and vote by visiting any vote center through Election Day. This allows you to register and cast a provisional ballot on the same day until the election closes. It means your ballot will be processed and counted once the county elections office has completed the voter registration verification process.

Oct. 29: Select Voting Centers Open

Counties participating in the Voter's Choice Act will open vote venters on this day. This act mandates that all registered voters receive a ballot in the mail 28 days before Election Day and provides voters three ways to cast their vote: by mail, by a ballot dropbox or at a vote center. The county registrar of voters will be opening some voting centers for in-person voting or dropping off ballots on this date. Click here to find a voting center location near you.

Nov. 5: All Voting Centers Open

Early voting begins at all centers countywide. Voting centers aren't restricted to ballot dropoffs, of course. Registered voters can also get replacement ballots, vote using machines and solicit help and voting information in multiple languages at all voting centers. Click here to find a voting center location near you.

Nov. 8: Election Day and Results

On Election Day, all polls in the state will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. If you're in line before polls close, you can vote.

Following the 8 p.m. deadline, county elections officials will conduct the semifinal canvass of votes, reporting the results to the secretary of state.

Nov. 15: Vote-by-Mail Ballot Deadline

If you're voting by mail, your ballot must be postmarked on or before Election Day and received by your county elections office no later than seven days after Election Day.

Dec. 8: Election Results Certified

County elections officials must certify election results by this date.

County Elections Offices Information

For the mailing address, contact information and hours of your county elections office, follow this link.

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