Election Day: Tuesday, November 3, 2026. California polling locations are open 7 a.m.–8 p.m. Active registered voters were mailed ballots beginning in early October. The regular online registration deadline was October 19; eligible voters who missed it can use conditional same-day registration in person through Election Day.
How to vote and important dates
- Complete your mailed ballot, seal it in the official envelope and sign the envelope.
- Return it at an official drop box or voting location by 8 p.m. November 3, or mail it with a postmark no later than November 3. State officials recommend mailing at least seven days early; if mailing on Election Day, ask a postal employee for a manual postmark.
- Track a returned ballot at Where’s My Ballot.
- Find voting locations and registration details at the California Secretary of State election page.
Statewide contests
Californians will vote on statewide constitutional offices including governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, secretary of state, controller, treasurer, insurance commissioner and superintendent of public instruction, along with other contests applicable to their districts. The gubernatorial candidates on the November ballot are Xavier Becerra (Democratic) and Steve Hilton (Republican). Federal congressional, state legislative, judicial, county, municipal and school board contests depend on the voter’s residence. Read the official candidate statements and sample ballot for the complete, accurate local roster.
All 14 California statewide propositions
The following are brief topic labels, not full descriptions of the measures or their effects. For each proposition, the Official California Voter Information Guide supplies its exact ballot title, nonpartisan Legislative Analyst’s Office analysis, fiscal effects, what a Yes or No vote does, and signed arguments and rebuttals identifying proponents and opponents. Readers can use those signed arguments to identify organizations publicly supporting or opposing a measure; they are advocacy statements, not endorsements by this publication.
- Proposition 1: Housing affordability bonds. Read the official analysis and the signed arguments for and against before deciding.
- Proposition 2: State rainy-day fund. Read the official analysis and the signed arguments for and against before deciding.
- Proposition 3: School and health care funding through an existing high-income tax. Read the official analysis and the signed arguments for and against before deciding.
- Proposition 4: Public financing of election campaigns. Read the official analysis and the signed arguments for and against before deciding.
- Proposition 5: Recall elections for statewide officers. Read the official analysis and the signed arguments for and against before deciding.
- Proposition 37: Middle-income homebuyer loan program. Read the official analysis and the signed arguments for and against before deciding.
- Proposition 38: Immunology research bonds. Read the official analysis and the signed arguments for and against before deciding.
- Proposition 39: Government-issued voter identification requirement. Read the official analysis and the signed arguments for and against before deciding.
- Proposition 40: One-time tax on certain taxpayers. Read the official analysis and the signed arguments for and against before deciding.
- Proposition 41: State spending limits and audits for special taxes. Read the official analysis and the signed arguments for and against before deciding.
- Proposition 42: State personal property taxes and retroactive taxes. Read the official analysis and the signed arguments for and against before deciding.
- Proposition 43: Local-government revenue measures. Read the official analysis and the signed arguments for and against before deciding.
- Proposition 44: Community health clinic program-spending requirement. Read the official analysis and the signed arguments for and against before deciding.
- Proposition 45: Environmental review for certain projects. Read the official analysis and the signed arguments for and against before deciding.
Understanding endorsements and ballot arguments
Campaign committees, civic groups, unions, business associations, public officials and other organizations may publicly support or oppose particular measures. The official state guide publishes attributed arguments for and against each proposition. An endorsement represents the position of the named endorser, not an independent assessment by this website. Read the fiscal analysis and the full measure alongside any endorsement.
Chula Vista and San Diego County ballot information
Chula Vista voters should review the mayoral race between incumbent John McCann and Francisco Tamayo, as well as City Council contests applicable to their district. District 1 features Carolina Chavez and Greg Martinez; District 2 features Jose Preciado and Angelica S. Martinez. Not every resident votes in every district race. Other county, congressional, school and special-district races and local measures depend on the voter’s address.
Get the exact candidate list, local measure text, ballot arguments, voting locations and personalized sample ballot from the San Diego County Registrar of Voters. The county guide, not a generalized list, determines what appears on your ballot. See also the California Official Voter Information Guide.
Before submitting your ballot
Check that you reviewed both sides of every page; local offices, school boards, judges and measures may appear after the statewide contests. Confirm your ballot-envelope signature and return method. The official guides, not campaign advertising, are the best starting point for checking the legal text and fiscal implications of each proposition.
Nonpartisan voter-information brief, updated October 20, 2026. This publication does not endorse candidates or ballot measures. Official election authorities are the source of record for ballot content, deadlines and locations.