California voters will have several important dates to keep in mind before Tuesday, Nov. 3. There are also special elections taking place earlier in the year, so if you live in one of the affected congressional districts, you may have an additional election to watch.
Here’s what to put on your calendar for California’s 2026 elections:
MONDAY, JULY 20: Registration deadline for CD-01 special election
If you’re eligible to vote in the special election for California’s 1st Congressional District, July 20 is the deadline to register online or by mail. You can register online by using our voter registration portal.
MONDAY, AUG. 3: Registration deadline for CD-14 special election
Voters participating in the special election for California’s 14th Congressional District have until Aug. 3 to register online or by mail.
TUESDAY, AUG. 4 & TUESDAY, AUG. 18: Special elections
California has special elections scheduled for CD-01 on Aug. 4 and CD-03 on Aug. 18. These races only apply to voters in the affected congressional districts.
MONDAY, OCT. 5: Early voting begins
Early voting gets underway Oct. 5 ahead of the November general election.
MONDAY, OCT. 19: General election registration deadline
Oct. 19 is the deadline to register to vote online or by mail for the November midterm election. California also offers same-day, in-person voter registration for eligible voters who miss the regular deadline.
TUESDAY, NOV. 3: Election Day
California’s 2026 midterm election takes place Nov. 3. If you’re planning to vote, make sure you’ve registered or know your options for registering and voting in person.
Need help getting ready to vote? Use our online voter portal to check what’s on your ballot, find your polling location and make a plan to vote.
