General Info
Voting in the United States
Find answers to common questions about voting in the United States.
Upcoming Elections: 2025 Statewide Special Election- November 4, 2025
Are you #voteready? National Registration Day is September 16, 2025! Register to vote or check your registration status, and check out important dates for the 2025 Statewide Special Election.
The last day to register to vote online or by mail for the 2025 Statewide Special Election is October 20, 2025.
Election Day is November 4, 2025. This is the last day to vote in person and drop off your vote-by-mail ballot at a drop-off location or your county elections office.
How Do I...
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Register to Vote in CaliforniaTo register to vote in California, you will need your California driver's license or identification number, the last four digits of your social security number, and your date of birth. The deadline to register to vote in California is 15 days before an election.
Also use the above link to update or change your voter registration. You will need to change your information if you...
Move within your state
Change your name
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Check my voter registration statusIf you are unsure whether you are registered to vote in California you can find out at this link by entering your name, California driver's license or identification card number, the last four digits of your social security number, and your date of birth. Even if you are confident that you are registered to vote in California, it is recommended that you confirm your registration status prior to every election.
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Vote by mailCalifornia sends every registered voter a mail-in ballot. Voters can return the ballot in the mail or drop it off at a secure ballot drop box location. You can find a nearby drop box location using the link above.
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Vote in personYou can find your polling place by entering your address at the above link. This link also includes information about voting in each California county, including the county's voting office address and, for some counties, vote center and ballot drop-off locations.
How do I find out about candidates, ballot measures, and issues in my area?
Through Skimm Your Ballot, the good folks at theSkimm have built an all-encompassing digital voting hub to serve as a one-stop-shop to register, make a voting plan, learn about the candidates on your ballot, read up on the issues at stake, and get involved in local election efforts. (Provided by The National Voter Registration Team)
California Official Voter Information Guides
The California Secretary of State's Office releases Voter Information Guides for the general public. There is no official voter information guide for the 2025 Statewide Special Election, but click through to see examples of Voter Information Guides in years past.