2026 California Election Center
California’s General Election is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Here’s how to make sure your ballot counts, what to expect after the polls close, and which climate champions we endorsed up and down the ballot.
Central Valley
Five races on the November 3, 2026 ballot will shape how Fresno and the Central Valley tackle some of California’s toughest health challenges,
Los Angeles
Five critical races to watch out for and one local ballot measure we will be voting on.
Inland Empire
Two key Inland Empire races in the November 3, 2026 election could shape issues that directly affect our communities.
Sierra Nevada
Tahoe, Auburn, and Yosemite: Five races on the ballot will decide who speaks for the Sierra Nevada
Why Do California Election Results Take So Long?
California counts every valid ballot, and doing that carefully takes time. County election officials have up to 30 days after Election Day to finish counting, auditing, and certifying results. That means the numbers you see on election night are early returns, not final results. That’s not a sign something went wrong. It’s the process working as designed.
How does California keep vote-by-mail ballots secure?
Before a ballot is counted, election workers check the signature on every vote-by-mail envelope against the voter’s signature on file. They also confirm that each voter is registered and hasn’t already voted somewhere else in the same election. If your signature is missing or doesn’t match, your county will contact you so you can confirm it’s really you and get your vote counted.
Will my ballot count if it arrives after Election Day?
Yes, as long as it’s postmarked on time. California counts mail ballots that are postmarked on or before Election Day and arrive at your county elections office within seven days. For this election, that means postmarked by November 3 and received by November 10. In June 2026, the U.S. Supreme Court confirmed that states can count on-time ballots that arrive after Election Day, and California’s rules haven’t changed.
Mailing your ballot close to Election Day? Postmarks are now applied when the post office processes your mail, not when you drop it in a mailbox. That means a ballot mailed in the last few days could get a late postmark. Late postmarks are the reason that over 93,000 mail-in ballots were rejected in California’s June primary.
To be safe, return your ballot at a drop box or vote center. They accept ballots until 8 p.m. on Election Day.
When will California’s election results be final?
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| Election Day. Polls close at 8 p.m., and counties begin posting early results. | |
| Last day for mailed ballots postmarked by Nov. 3 to arrive. | |
| Counties must count and report most ballots. Some ballots, like provisional ballots and ballots with signature fixes, can take longer. | |
| Counties certify their final results. | |
| The California Secretary of State certifies statewide results. |
Why do some results change after election night?
Election night results mostly include ballots that arrived early and ballots cast in person on Election Day. Ballots dropped off on Election Day, mail ballots that arrive during the following week, and provisional ballots are all counted afterward, so totals can shift in the days after the election. Counties also do a public hand count of a random sample of ballots to double-check that the voting machines counted accurately. A changing count is what counting every valid vote looks like.
State Elections & Voter Information
Find information on how to register, find your polling place, and track your ballot status.
Endorsement Process
We look for candidates who come from communities most impacted by climate change, and help them raise money, build a grassroots campaign, and win.
Give Green California
Make a gift to elect candidates in California who will champion bold policies to protect our environment, democracy, and climate justice.