Happy election eve, voters!
Tuesday, June 2, is the final day to cast those ballots that have been sitting on the counter for the past month.
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Voters can do so in multiple ways: return their ballot in one of the large drop boxes scattered around the county, cast in person at the county elections office or vote center or mail it back in the envelope that already has postage.
Two things to keep in mind if mailing your ballot is how you choose to vote: Be sure to sign the envelope at the designated spot, and consider asking an employee at the post office to apply a manual postmark. They are free of charge and will ensure your ballot is postmarked on or before June 2 to make the deadline, since mail is not guaranteed to receive a postmark on the day it’s dropped off at a post office. Any later date means the ballot cannot be counted.
Find the nearest voting location or ballot drop box by using a tool on the California secretary of state’s website, caearlyvoting.sos.ca.gov.
And remember, California prohibits electioneering within 100 feet of buildings, outdoor sites or curbside at voting centers. That includes displaying or distributing “name, likeness, or logo” of a candidate, including on shirts, signs, pens, hats, buttons, stickers and pencils. So leave any campaign paraphernalia at home.
You most likely will not need to present an ID to vote, unless you are voting for the first time and did not provide a driver’s license or ID number or the last four digits of your Social Security number when registering to vote by mail.
The deadline to register to vote in the June 2 primary has come and gone — but California does let you participate, still.
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California has what’s called “conditional voter registration.” Eligible citizens are able to register or re-register to vote at their county elections office, polling place or vote centers and cast a ballot. Those ballots won’t be processed and counted, however, until the county elections office has verified the voter’s registration application.
And if you’re still unsure about the myriad candidates on your ballot, check out the Southern California News Group’s 2026 Voter Guide, a one-stop shop where you can find candidates’ platforms, FAQs on how to track your ballot and cast it, a map showing the nearest ballot drop boxes, our editorial board’s endorsements and more.
This will be the first election with the new congressional seats after California voters agreed to a midcycle redistricting plan in November. Our Voter Guide, located on our website, includes individual maps showing what cities and communities are included in those new congressional districts.
We’ve also got maps highlighting state Senate and Assembly districts, although those boundary lines did not change with Proposition 50.
There is information about each race and district, such as how long terms last and why you wouldn’t see a Republican, Democrat or other party marker next to the candidates’ names who are running for the next superintendent of public instruction. And for congressional and legislative races, you can find information about the district’s voter makeup.
On Election Day, polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. And if you’re still in line to vote when the clock strikes 8, stay in line. You are still allowed to cast a ballot.
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