The California voter registration deadline is October 19, 2026. Voters can register to vote online, in-person, or by mailing a completed application. California voters can also register to vote on Election Day, November 3, 2026, in-person at a county elections office, polling place, or vote center.
Eligibility
In order to register to vote, you must be a U.S. citizen, a resident of California, not currently be in state or federal prison or on parole for the conviction of a felony, and not currently be found mentally incompetent to vote by a court.
- College students have a choice of whether they want to vote in California or vote in their home state, but they may only be registered and vote at one location.
- If you are 16 or 17 and meet all the eligibility requirements to vote, you may pre-register, and you will be automatically registered on your 18th birthday.
- Find more information on disqualifying felonies and restoration of voting rights here.
- Find more information about the eligibility requirements for voting in California here.
Deadline
The deadline to register to vote in California for the General Election (November 3, 2026) is October 19, 2026.
Voter Registration Process
There are three methods of voter registration in California: online, mail in or drop off in person either paper registration forms which are at various locations, or your requested application from your County Elections Office.
- California automatically registers eligible individuals to vote when they complete a driver’s license, identification (ID) card, or change of address transaction through the Department of Motor Vehicles.
- Further voter registration information for California can be found here.
This page was last updated on May 13, 2025.
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California offers by-mail, in-person early voting, and in-person on Election Day voting in the 2024 General Election.
Vote-By-Mail Practices
All voters are eligible to vote by mail without having to provide a reason. Click here to access California’s by-mail voting application.
- Your application for a by-mail ballot must be received 7 days before Election Day (October 29, 2024).
- Ballots returned by mail must be postmarked on or before Election Day and received by your county elections office no later than 7 days after the election (November 12, 2022).
- Further absentee/by-mail voting information for California is listed here.
In-Person Early Voting Practices
California offers in-person early voting to all registered California voters. Find information on in-person early voting here.
- In-person early voting dates, hours, and locations vary by county.
- Find your early in-person voting locations and their hours here or by contacting your county Elections Office.
Election Day Practices
On Election Day, the polls are open 7am-8pm
This page was last updated on July 17, 2023.
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