California voting guide

Key Dates

• Mon., Oct. 5 Counties must begin mailing ballots; drop-off locations open
• Mon., Oct. 19 Last day to register (online, by mail postmarked, or in person)
• Tues., Oct. 20 Same-day (conditional) registration period begins
• Sat., Oct. 24 Vote centers open in Voter's Choice Act counties
• Sat., Oct. 31 In-person early voting sites open statewide (Saturday)
• Tues., Nov. 3 Election Day; polls 7 a.m.–8 p.m.; last day to postmark or drop off your ballot
• Tues., Nov. 10 Last day for mailed ballots (postmarked by Nov. 3) to arrive
• Wed., Nov. 25 Signature-fix deadline listed in county notices (5 p.m.)
• Thurs., Dec. 3 Counties must finish the official count (canvass)
• Fri., Dec. 11 Secretary of State certifies the statewide results

Your Voting Checklist

• Vote early in person from Mon., Oct. 5 to Mon., Nov. 2.
• Vote by mail. Every registered voter gets a ballot in the mail.
  Return it by Tues., Nov. 3.
  Problem with your ballot? If you forgot to sign or your signature doesn't match, your county will contact you. Send back the form they give you. Track your ballot
• Vote on Election Day, Tues., Nov. 3, 7 a.m.–8 p.m. Find your polling place
• Bring the right ID. Most voters don't need to show ID. See the official ID rules
• Review your sample ballot before you go.
• Have a past conviction?
  • You can vote unless you are in state or federal prison for a felony.
  • You can vote while on parole or probation.
  • After prison, you need to register to vote again.
• Make a plan and bring three people. Make a plan

What’s on Your Ballot

These are the biggest races in California this year. Please note, we do not endorse any candidates.

Ballot measures

• Proposition 1: Veterans and Affordable Housing Bond. Lets the state borrow $11.25 billion through bonds for income-qualified housing programs (including multifamily, CalHome and farmworker housing) and the veterans home loan program.
  Yes means the state can sell $11.25 billion in bonds for these housing programs.
  No means the state cannot sell these bonds.
• Proposition 2: Rainy Day Fund Changes. Raises the cap on the state's rainy day fund (Budget Stabilization Account) from 10% to 20% of tax revenue, changes how deposits count toward the state spending limit, and extends rules sending some money to pay down debts.
  Yes means change the rainy day fund rules and let the state save more.
  No means keep the current rainy day fund rules.
• Proposition 3: Extend Higher Income Tax Rates for Schools. Makes permanent the extra income tax rates (10.3% to 12.3%) on single filers earning at least about $361,000 and joint filers earning at least about $721,000, which would otherwise end in 2031. Most of the money goes to K–12 schools and community colleges.
  Yes means keep the higher tax rates on top earners with no end date to fund schools.
  No means let the higher rates expire in 2031.
• Proposition 4: Allow Public Financing of Campaigns. Repeals the 1988 ban on using public money for political campaigns, so the state and local governments could create programs that give candidates public funds if they follow spending limits.
  Yes means allow state and local public campaign financing programs.
  No means keep the ban on public campaign financing (charter cities keep their current exemption).
• Proposition 5: End Replacement Elections in Recalls. Ends the vote on a replacement candidate at the same time as a recall of a state officer. If a governor is recalled, the lieutenant governor would serve the rest of the term in most cases.
  Yes means remove the replacement-candidate question from recall elections; the office is filled under state law.
  No means keep the replacement vote on the same ballot as the recall.
• Proposition 37: Second Mortgage Homebuyer Program. Creates a state second-mortgage program run by CalHFA to help buyers earning up to 200% of area median income who put at least 3% down, funded by up to $25 billion in revenue bonds.
  Yes means create the homebuyer second-mortgage program and allow the bonds.
  No means do not create the program.
• Proposition 38: Immunology Research Bonds. Lets the state borrow $8.4 billion through bonds for immunology and immunotherapy research, with half going to a University of California–affiliated institute.
  Yes means approve $8.4 billion in bonds for this medical research.
  No means do not approve the bonds.
• Proposition 39: Voter ID and Citizenship Verification. Requires voters to show government-issued ID to vote in person, or give the last four digits of an ID number when voting by mail. Requires election officials to check citizenship using government data and report verification rates, with state audits.
  Yes means require voter ID and government-data citizenship checks of voter rolls.
  No means keep current law: no ID required for most voters; voters swear to citizenship under penalty of perjury.
• Proposition 40: One-Time Billionaire Wealth Tax. Puts a one-time 5% tax on the wealth of people and trusts with more than $1 billion in assets, to pay for health care, food assistance and public education. Conflicts with Props 41 and 42; if both pass, the one with more votes wins.
  Yes means charge the one-time 5% tax on billionaires' wealth for these programs.
  No means do not create the tax.
• Proposition 41: Audits for New Special Taxes. Requires audits of tax-related ballot initiatives and of new special taxes passed after Jan. 1, 2026, and blocks taxes passed after that date that are exempted from the state spending limit. Conflicts with Prop 40.
  Yes means require these audits and limits on new taxes.
  No means do not add these requirements.
• Proposition 42: Ban New Taxes on Savings and Assets. Changes the state constitution to ban new taxes (after Jan. 1, 2026) on owning retirement accounts, personal assets and savings, and bans retroactive taxes. Conflicts with Prop 40.
  Yes means ban these new wealth-type taxes and retroactive taxes.
  No means do not add this ban.
• Proposition 43: Two-Thirds Vote for Local Citizen Tax Measures. Requires a two-thirds vote to pass local special taxes put on the ballot by citizens (now a simple majority) and bars new local property taxes based on value, except voter-approved bond taxes.
  Yes means raise the vote needed for citizen-initiated local special taxes to two-thirds.
  No means keep the simple-majority rule.
• Proposition 44: Spending Rule for Community Health Centers. Requires nonprofit federally qualified health centers (community clinics) to spend at least 90% of their yearly revenue on their mission.
  Yes means require clinics to meet the 90% spending rule.
  No means do not add this rule.
• Proposition 45: Faster Environmental Review for 'Essential' Projects. Changes the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) to set deadlines for reviewing projects called essential (such as housing, water, transportation, energy, health and public safety), narrows review of alternatives, and limits lawsuits.
  Yes means speed up and limit environmental review and court challenges for these projects.
  No means keep current CEQA review and lawsuit rules.

Protect the Vote

• Apply to be a poll worker and support free and fair elections.
• Watch the count. Take a training to learn how to observe the polls.
• If anyone tries to stop you from voting or something at your polling place seems wrong:
  • Call 866-OUR-VOTE (866-687-8683)
  • Call 888-VE-Y-VOTA (888-839-8682) – Spanish
  • Call 888-API-VOTE (888-274-8683) – Asian languages
  • Call 844-YALLA-US (844-925-5287) – Arabic
  • Call California Secretary of State Voter Hotline: (800) 345-VOTE (8683)
  • If you’re in line when polls close, stay in line. You can still vote.
  • If your name isn’t on the list, ask for a provisional ballot.
  • Know your rights

Organizations to Support

• NALEO Educational Fund. Latino-led nonpartisan group (headquartered in Los Angeles) that runs voter help lines and civic participation programs.
• Asian Americans Advancing Justice Southern California. Asian American–led legal and civil rights group that runs multilingual voter education and Election Day protection.
• Mi Familia Vota. Latino-led group that registers and educates voters, with organizers in California.