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Midterm WatchRaces · forecasts · voting guides

California voting guide

Open the election authority’s current instructions

California · November 3, 2026

In-person registration remains available through Election Day; location, identification and ballot rules apply. OFF-CA · BP-REG · VOTE-REG

Ordinary domestic voters; same-day registration routes and local conditions remain distinct.
Registration routeDateRuleEvidence
OnlineOct 19OFF-CA · BP-REG · VOTE-REG
MailOct 19postmarkedOFF-CA · BP-REG · VOTE-REG
In personNov 3OFF-CA · BP-REG · VOTE-REG
A displayed window does not mean every site is open every day. Times are local unless a named time zone is given.
Voting taskDate or windowInstructions
Mailed ballot requestAutomatically mailed; see exceptionsBallots automatically mailed to eligible active registered voters; contact the election authority for a replacement or alternate-address request. BP-MAIL · VOTE-MAIL
In-person early/absentee routeOct 5–Nov 2County election-office voting begins October 5; additional vote centers and hours vary by county. Active registered voters are automatically mailed ballots. BP-EARLY · VOTE-EARLY
Ballot returnMethod-specific ruleMail: Nov 3 postmark and arrival by Nov 10. Hand/drop-box return: 8 p.m. Nov 3. BP-RETURN · VOTE-MAIL
Election Day hours7 a.m. to 8 p.m.California conducts its elections largely by mail. BP-HOURS · VOTECLOCK · GP-HOURS

County election-office voting begins October 5; additional vote centers and hours vary by county. Active registered voters are automatically mailed ballots. OFF-CA · BP-MAIL · VOTE-MAIL · BP-RETURN · BP-EARLY · VOTE-EARLY

Official state election information and ballot lookup. Military/overseas, emergency, accessible-ballot and special-eligibility rules can differ.

2026 House districts; all outlooks are pre-election assessments.
House districtOutlookDDHQ / Cook
CA-1Safe DSafe D / Safe D DDHQ-H · COOK-H
CA-2Safe DSafe D / Safe D DDHQ-H · COOK-H
CA-3Safe DSafe D / Safe D DDHQ-H · COOK-H
CA-4Safe DSafe D / Safe D DDHQ-H · COOK-H
CA-5Likely RLikely R / Safe R DDHQ-H · COOK-H
CA-6Safe DSafe D / Safe D DDHQ-H · COOK-H
CA-7Safe DSafe D / Safe D DDHQ-H · COOK-H
CA-8Safe DSafe D / Safe D DDHQ-H · COOK-H
CA-9Safe DSafe D / Safe D DDHQ-H · COOK-H
CA-10Safe DSafe D / Safe D DDHQ-H · COOK-H
CA-11Safe DSafe D / Safe D DDHQ-H · COOK-H
CA-12Safe DSafe D / Safe D DDHQ-H · COOK-H
CA-13Lean DLikely D / Lean D DDHQ-H · COOK-H
CA-14Safe DSafe D / Safe D DDHQ-H · COOK-H
CA-15Safe DSafe D / Safe D DDHQ-H · COOK-H
CA-16Safe DSafe D / Safe D DDHQ-H · COOK-H
CA-17Safe DSafe D / Safe D DDHQ-H · COOK-H
CA-18Safe DSafe D / Safe D DDHQ-H · COOK-H
CA-19Safe DSafe D / Safe D DDHQ-H · COOK-H
CA-20Safe RSafe R / Safe R DDHQ-H · COOK-H
CA-21Likely DSafe D / Likely D DDHQ-H · COOK-H
CA-22Toss-upLikely D / Toss-up DDHQ-H · COOK-H
CA-23Safe RSafe R / Safe R DDHQ-H · COOK-H
CA-24Safe DSafe D / Safe D DDHQ-H · COOK-H
CA-25Safe DSafe D / Safe D DDHQ-H · COOK-H
CA-26Safe DSafe D / Safe D DDHQ-H · COOK-H
CA-27Safe DSafe D / Safe D DDHQ-H · COOK-H
CA-28Safe DSafe D / Safe D DDHQ-H · COOK-H
CA-29Safe DSafe D / Safe D DDHQ-H · COOK-H
CA-30Safe DSafe D / Safe D DDHQ-H · COOK-H
CA-31Safe DSafe D / Safe D DDHQ-H · COOK-H
CA-32Safe DSafe D / Safe D DDHQ-H · COOK-H
CA-33Safe DSafe D / Safe D DDHQ-H · COOK-H
CA-34Safe DSafe D / Safe D DDHQ-H · COOK-H
CA-35Safe DSafe D / Safe D DDHQ-H · COOK-H
CA-36Safe DSafe D / Safe D DDHQ-H · COOK-H
CA-37Safe DSafe D / Safe D DDHQ-H · COOK-H
CA-38Safe DSafe D / Safe D DDHQ-H · COOK-H
CA-39Safe DSafe D / Safe D DDHQ-H · COOK-H
CA-40Safe RSafe R / Safe R DDHQ-H · COOK-H
CA-41Safe DSafe D / Safe D DDHQ-H · COOK-H
CA-42Safe DSafe D / Safe D DDHQ-H · COOK-H
CA-43Safe DSafe D / Safe D DDHQ-H · COOK-H
CA-44Safe DSafe D / Safe D DDHQ-H · COOK-H
CA-45Likely DLikely D / Likely D DDHQ-H · COOK-H
CA-46Safe DSafe D / Safe D DDHQ-H · COOK-H
CA-47Safe DSafe D / Safe D DDHQ-H · COOK-H
CA-48Lean DLikely D / Lean D DDHQ-H · COOK-H
CA-49Safe DSafe D / Safe D DDHQ-H · COOK-H
CA-50Safe DSafe D / Safe D DDHQ-H · COOK-H
CA-51Safe DSafe D / Safe D DDHQ-H · COOK-H
CA-52Safe DSafe D / Safe D DDHQ-H · COOK-H