California

California

www.sos.ca.gov/elections/upcoming-elections

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Federal Election Deadlines

CD 20 Special General May 21, 2024 General Election November 5, 2024
Registration* By Mail: Postmarked by May 6, 2024 By Online or Fax: Received by May 6, 2024 By Mail: Postmarked by October 21, 2024 By Online or Fax: Received by October 21, 2024
Ballot Request Received by May 14, 2024 Received by October 29, 2024
Ballot Return Return by Mail: Postmarked by** May 21, 2024 Return by Fax: Received by 8 PM, May 21, 2024 Return by Mail: Postmarked by** November 5, 2024 Return by Fax: Received by 8 PM, November 5, 2024

*If you are starting the voter registration process after the registration deadline, please contact your local election office (https://www.fvap.gov/search-offices?state=5).

**Ballot Return: Ballots must be received by the 7th day after the election.

Please mail your voting materials early enough to account for mail delivery times. Check the recommended mailing dates section in Chapter 1 for details.

Important information

What is UOCAVA?

The Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act is commonly referred to as UOCAVA. UOCAVA citizens are U.S. citizens who are active members of the Uniformed Services, the Merchant Marine, the commissioned corps of the Public Health Service and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, their eligible family members and other U.S. citizens residing outside the United States. The law provides the legal basis for absentee voting requirements for federal offices.

What is the Federal Post Card Application (FPCA)?

The FPCA (Federal Standard Form 76) allows UOCAVA citizens to register to vote and request an absentee ballot. This form is also used to update your contact information.

What is the Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot (FWAB)?

The FWAB (Federal Standard Form 186) serves as an emergency backup ballot for UOCAVA citizens. If you do not receive your absentee ballot from your state in time to return it to your election official to participate in the election, use the FWAB.

What is the DoD Fax Service?

The DoD Fax Service is for those voters who cannot send their election materials directly to their election officials. To fax your election materials, use the "Transmission Cover Sheet" found in Chapter 1 or online at FVAP.gov and fax to: (703) 693-5527, DSN 223-5527 or toll-free from the U.S., Canada, Guam, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands to 1-800-368-8683 or check FVAP.gov for international fax numbers. If you need to send your election materials to your election official by fax, but do not have access to a fax machine, you can email them to fax@fvap.gov and FVAP will fax your election materials for you. This service is fax only. If your state accepts your election materials by email you should email them directly to your election official. FVAP will not transmit email-to-email transactions.

What is the Prepaid Mail Label 11-DoD?

Overseas Uniformed Service members can use this label for general election absentee ballots. It provides free express mail service to your election official for general election absentee ballots. You can request to have a Prepaid Mail Label 11-DoD applied to your absentee ballot at Military Postal Office locations (APO/FPO). Keep part of the tracking label to track your absentee ballot through the U.S. Postal Service.

What is a primary election?

A primary election is an election held before the general election to determine the candidates that can be placed on the general election ballot.

I am an American citizen, but I have never lived in the U.S., can I vote in this state?

A U.S. citizen who has never resided in the U.S., who has not previously registered to vote in another state, and whose parent or legal guardian was a California resident when they were last living in the U.S., is eligible to vote in California.

I am a National Guardsman activated on state orders; does my state afford me UOCAVA privileges?

Yes.

How can I check the status of my ballot?

You can check the status of your absentee ballot here:
https://voterstatus.sos.ca.gov/

Does my state have any online tools?

You can see if your state has any online tools available here:
https://www.fvap.gov/california

Registering and requesting your absentee ballot

Under federal law, the Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) registers you to vote and requests absentee ballots for a minimum of all federal elections in the current calendar year. Be sure to complete a new FPCA each year and every time your address changes.

In California, voters do not need to request an absentee ballot; all active registered voters automatically receive an absentee ballot for every election.

Complete the following sections of the FPCA

Section 1

Select the category that best describes you.
Enter your current name (Last, First). If you are registered under a different name, provide this information in the previous name area.
Your date of birth is required.
Provide your California-issued ID number or the last four digits of your Social Security Number. If you do not have any of these numbers enter in Section 6: "I do not have a Social Security Number or California-issued ID number."

Section 2

Enter the complete street address of your voting residence where you are registering to vote. You cannot use a post office box mailing address. If your address is a rural route, use Section 6 to describe the location of your voting residence.

Section 3

Enter your current mailing address, even if you are requesting your ballot by email or online, or fax. If you want your election materials sent to a different address or have a forwarding address, use the forwarding address space to provide this information.

Section 4

Your contact information is recommended so your election official can contact you if they need additional information from you in order to accept your FPCA. If you want to receive your absentee ballot by email or online, or fax, you must provide your email address or fax number.

Section 5

A. Select your preferred method of receiving your absentee ballot. You can choose to receive your absentee ballot by "mail", "email or online", or "fax".
B. Voters who do not provide a political party affiliation can vote for the office of U.S. President in a presidential primary election if the political party allows it. Political party affiliation is not required if requesting an absentee ballot for other primary elections or general elections.

Section 6

Provide any information that may assist your election official in accepting this form.

Section 7

Sign and date the form. No witness signature required.

Section 1

Select the category that best describes you.
Enter your current name (Last, First). If you are registered under a different name, provide this information in the previous name area.
Your date of birth is required.
Provide your California-issued ID number or the last four digits of your Social Security Number. If you do not have any of these numbers enter in Section 6: "I do not have a Social Security Number or California-issued ID number."

Section 2

Enter the complete street address of your voting residence where you are registering to vote. You cannot use a post office box mailing address. If your address is a rural route, use Section 6 to describe the location of your voting residence.

Section 3

Enter your current mailing address, even if you are requesting your ballot by email or online, or fax. If you want your election materials sent to a different address or have a forwarding address, use the forwarding address space to provide this information.

Section 4

Your contact information is recommended so your election official can contact you if they need additional information from you in order to accept your FPCA. If you want to receive your absentee ballot by email or online, or fax, you must provide your email address or fax number.

Section 5

A. Select your preferred method of receiving your absentee ballot. You can choose to receive your absentee ballot by "mail", "email or online", or "fax".
B. Voters who do not provide a political party affiliation can vote for the office of U.S. President in a presidential primary election if the political party allows it. Political party affiliation is not required if requesting an absentee ballot for other primary elections or general elections.

Section 6

Provide any information that may assist your election official in accepting this form.

Section 7

Sign and date the form. No witness signature required.

How and where to submit your FPCA

If you are using the FPCA to register to vote, you must mail or fax the form. Addresses can be found in the "Local Election Offices" section or online at FVAP.gov.

If you are already registered and are using the FPCA to update your registration information you can mail, email, or fax your signed form to your election official. Contact information can be found in the "Local Election Offices" section or online at FVAP.gov.

Mail your FPCA: Once your FPCA is complete, sign and date the form. Mail your FPCA directly to your election official.

Email your FPCA: Once your FPCA is complete, sign and date the form. Scan the signed FPCA into your computer. Be sure to also include the "Transmission Cover Sheet". Email this package directly to your election official.

Fax your FPCA: Once your FPCA is complete, sign and date the form. Fax your FPCA directly to your election official. Be sure to also include the "Transmission Cover Sheet". You may use the DoD Fax Service to fax your FPCA if you do not have access to a fax machine to fax your election official directly. Instructions for the DoD Fax Service are in the "Important Information" section or online at FVAP.gov.

To find out the status of your FPCA, contact your election official. Your election official will contact you if your FPCA is not accepted.

Voting your ballot

Once you receive your absentee ballot from your state it must be returned according to the deadlines and requirements in the "Federal Election Deadlines" chart. For special federal elections, visit FVAP.gov for specific deadlines.

You can submit the state absentee ballot by mail or fax*.

Contact information can be found in the "Local Election Offices" section. If you do not have access to a fax machine to fax your election official directly, you may use the DoD Fax Service to fax your ballot. Overseas Uniformed Service members can request to have the Prepaid Mail Label 11-DoD applied to the general election ballot. Additional information about this label can be found in the "Important Information" section.

*Fax only if you are overseas or activated within 6 days of the election.

Haven't received your ballot? Use the Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot

The Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot (FWAB) can be used to register to vote. If you are using the FWAB to register to vote, it must be received by the registration deadline listed in the "Federal Election Deadlines" chart.

You can use the FWAB to vote in federal, state and local elections, including ballot measures.

Complete the following sections of the FWAB's voter information page

Section 1

Select the category that best describes you.
Enter your current name (Last, First). If you are registered under a different name, provide this information in the previous name area.
Your date of birth is required.
Provide your California-issued ID number or the last four digits of your Social Security Number. If you do not have any of these numbers enter in Section 6: "I do not have a Social Security Number or California-issued ID number."

Section 2

Enter the complete street address of your voting residence where you are registering to vote and requesting an absentee ballot. You cannot use a post office box mailing address. If your address is a rural route, use Section 6 to describe the location of your voting residence.

Section 3

Enter your current mailing address, even if you are requesting your ballot by email or online, or fax. If you want your election materials sent to a different address or have a forwarding address, use the forwarding address space to provide this information.

Section 4

Your contact information is recommended so your election official can contact you if they need additional information from you in order to accept your FWAB. If you want to receive your absentee ballot by email or online, or fax, you must provide your email address or fax number.

Section 5

A. Check "Yes" if you would like to register to vote and/or request an absentee ballot, otherwise check "No."
B. Select your preferred method of receiving your absentee ballot. You can choose to receive your absentee ballot by "mail", "email or online", or "fax".
C. Voters who do not provide a political party affiliation can vote for the office of U.S. President in a presidential primary election if the political party allows it. Political party affiliation is not required if requesting an absentee ballot for other primary elections or general elections.

Section 6

Provide any information that may assist the election official in accepting this form.

Section 7

Sign and date the form. No witness signature required.

Section 1

Select the category that best describes you.
Enter your current name (Last, First). If you are registered under a different name, provide this information in the previous name area.
Your date of birth is required.
Provide your California-issued ID number or the last four digits of your Social Security Number. If you do not have any of these numbers enter in Section 6: "I do not have a Social Security Number or California-issued ID number."

Section 2

Enter the complete street address of your voting residence where you are registering to vote and requesting an absentee ballot. You cannot use a post office box mailing address. If your address is a rural route, use Section 6 to describe the location of your voting residence.

Section 3

Enter your current mailing address, even if you are requesting your ballot by email or online, or fax. If you want your election materials sent to a different address or have a forwarding address, use the forwarding address space to provide this information.

Section 4

Your contact information is recommended so your election official can contact you if they need additional information from you in order to accept your FWAB. If you want to receive your absentee ballot by email or online, or fax, you must provide your email address or fax number.

Section 5

A. Check "Yes" if you would like to register to vote and/or request an absentee ballot, otherwise check "No."
B. Select your preferred method of receiving your absentee ballot. You can choose to receive your absentee ballot by "mail", "email or online", or "fax".
C. Voters who do not provide a political party affiliation can vote for the office of U.S. President in a presidential primary election if the political party allows it. Political party affiliation is not required if requesting an absentee ballot for other primary elections or general elections.

Section 6

Provide any information that may assist the election official in accepting this form.

Section 7

Sign and date the form. No witness signature required.

Vote your FWAB

To vote, write in the candidate's name for each office. You are not required to make a selection for each and every contest.

How and where to submit your FWAB

You can submit the FWAB by mail or fax*. Contact information can be found in the "Local Election Offices" section or online at FVAP.gov.

*Fax only if you are overseas or activated within 6 days of the election.

Mail your FWAB: Once your FWAB is complete, sign and date the "Voter Information" page. Fold along the dotted line and seal the completed "Official Backup Ballot", do not write on the "Official Ballot" envelope. Insert the sealed "Official Ballot" envelope and the "Voter Information" page into the mailing envelope and mail your FWAB directly to your election official.

Overseas Uniformed Service members can request to have the Prepaid Mail Label 11-DoD applied to the general election ballot. Additional information about this label can be found in the "Important Information" section or online at FVAP.gov.

Fax your FWAB: (fax only if you are overseas or activated within 6 days of the election). Once your FWAB is complete, sign and date the "Voter Information" page. Fax the signed "Voter Information" page, the "Official Backup Ballot" and the "Transmission Cover Sheet", found at the end of Chapter 1 or online at FVAP.gov, directly to your election official. Be sure to also sign the secrecy waiver on the "Transmission Cover Sheet". You may use the DoD Fax Service to fax your FWAB toll-free if you do not have access to a fax machine to fax your election official directly. Instructions for the DoD Fax Service are in the "Important Information" section or online at FVAP.gov.

See the "Federal Election Deadlines" chart for the deadline for submitting the FWAB. If you receive the state absentee ballot after transmitting your voted FWAB, you may also vote and return the state absentee ballot. If both are received by the deadline, only the state absentee ballot will be counted.

Local election offices for countySearch Offices

County Mailing Address
Alameda Alameda Registrar of Voters
1225 Fallon St, Rm G-1
Oakland, CA 94612-4229
Phone: (510) 272-6973
Fax: (510) 470-7995
Alpine Alpine County Clerk, Registrar of Voters
P.O. Box 158
Markleeville, CA 96120-0158
Phone: (530) 694-2281
Fax: (530) 694-2491
Amador Amador Registrar of Voters
810 Court St
Jackson, CA 95642-2132
Phone: (209) 223-6465
Fax: (209) 223-6467
Butte Butte County Clerk, Registrar of Voters
155 Nelson Ave
Oroville, CA 95965-3411
Phone: (530) 552-3400
Fax: 530 538-7761
Calaveras Calaveras County Clerk, Elections Department
891 Mountain Ranch Rd
San Andreas, CA 95249-9713
Phone: (209) 754-6376
Fax: (209) 754-6733
Colusa Colusa County Clerk-Elections Department
546 Jay St, Ste 200
Colusa, CA 95932-2400
Phone: (530) 458-0500
Fax: (530) 458-0512
Contra Costa Contra Costa County Clerk - Elections Department
P.O. Box 271
Martinez, CA 94553-0027
Phone: (925) 335-7800
Fax: (925) 335-7836
Del Norte Del Norte County Clerk-Recorder-Elections
981 H St, Rm 160
Crescent City, CA 95531-3457
Phone: (707) 465-0383
Fax: (707) 465-0321
El Dorado El Dorado Registrar of Voters
P.O. Box 678001
Placerville, CA 95667-8001
Phone: (530) 621-7481
Fax: (530) 677-1014
Fresno Fresno County Clerk, Registrar of Voters
2221 Kern St
Fresno, CA 93721-2613
Phone: (559) 600-8683
Fax: (559) 488-3279
Glenn Glenn County Clerk-Elections
516 W Sycamore St, 2nd Floor
Willows, CA 95988-2747
Phone: (888) 677-9461
Fax: (530) 934-6571
Humboldt Humboldt County Clerk-Elections
2426 6th Street
Eureka, CA 95501-0788
Phone: (707) 445-7481
Fax: (707) 445-7204
Imperial Imperial County Elections
940 W. Main St, Ste 206
El Centro, CA 92243-2839
Phone: (442) 265-1060
Fax: (442) 265-1062
Inyo Inyo County Clerk-Elections
168 N. Edwards, P.O. Drawer F
Independence, CA 93526-0606
Phone: (760) 878-0224
Fax: (760) 878-1805
Kern Kern County Clerk - Elections Office
1115 Truxtun Ave, First Floor
Bakersfield, CA 93301-4639
Phone: (661) 868-3590
Fax: (661) 868-3723
Kings Kings County Elections Dept., Govt. Center
1400 W Lacey Blvd, Bldg #7
Hanford, CA 93230-5997
Phone: (559) 852-4882
Fax: (559) 585-8453
Lake Lake County Clerk, Registrar of Voters
255 N Forbes St
Lakeport, CA 95453-4748
Phone: (707) 263-2372
Fax: (707) 263-2742
Lassen Lassen County Clerk, Registrar of Voters
220 S Lassen St, Ste 5
Susanville, CA 96130-4343
Phone: (530) 251-8217
Fax: (530) 257-3480
Los Angeles Los Angeles Registrar-Recorder County Clerk
P.O. Box 30450
Los Angeles, CA 90099
Phone: (800) 815-2666 *2
Fax: (562) 232-7924
Madera Madera County Clerk-Elections
200 W. 4th St
Madera, CA 93637-3548
Phone: (800) 435-0509
Fax: (559) 675-7870
Marin Marin County Registrar of Voters
P.O. Box E
San Rafael, CA 94913-3904
Phone: (415) 473-6441
Fax: (415) 473-4244 (415) 473-6447
Mariposa Mariposa County Clerk, Registrar of Voters
P.O. Box 247
Mariposa, CA 95338-0247
Phone: (209) 966-2007
Fax: (209) 966-6496
Mendocino Mendocino County Clerk-Elections
501 Low Gap Rd, Rm 1020
Ukiah, CA 95482-3738
Phone: (707) 234-6819
Fax: (707) 463-4257
Merced Merced County Registrar of Voters - Elections
2222 M St
Merced, CA 95340-3729
Phone: (800) 561-0619
Fax: (209) 385-7387
Modoc Modoc County Clerk-Elections
108 E Modoc St
Alturas, CA 96101-4199
Phone: (530) 233-6200
Fax: (530) 233-6666
Mono Mono County Clerk-Elections
P.O. Box 237
Bridgeport, CA 93517-0237
Phone: (760) 932-5537
Fax: (760) 932-5531
Monterey Monterey County Elections
P.O. Box 4400
Salinas, CA 93912-4400
Phone: (831) 796-1499
Fax: (831) 755-5485
Napa Napa County Clerk, Registrar of Voters
1127 First Street, Suite E
Napa, CA 94559-2952
Phone: (707) 299-1470
Fax: (707) 253-4390
Nevada Nevada County Clerk - Elections
950 Maidu Ave, Ste 210
Nevada City, CA 95959-8600
Phone: (530) 265-1298
Fax: (530) 265-9829
Orange Orange County Registrar of Voters
P.O. Box 11298
Santa Ana, CA 92711-1298
Phone: (714) 567-7560
Fax: (714) 567-5100
Placer Placer County Registrar of Voters
3715 Atherton Road, Suite 2
Rocklin, CA 95765
Phone: (530) 886-5650
Fax: (530) 886-5691
Plumas Plumas County Clerk - Elections
520 Main St, Rm 102, Courthouse
Quincy, CA 95971-9366
Phone: (530) 283-6256
Fax: (530) 283-6155
Riverside Riverside Registrar of Voters
2724 Gateway Dr
Riverside, CA 92507-0918
Phone: (951) 486-7200
Fax: (951) 486-7335
Sacramento County of Sacramento Voter Registration and Elections
7000 65th Street, Suite A
Sacramento, CA 95823-2315
Phone: (916) 875-6451
Fax: (916) 854-9796
San Benito San Benito County Registrar of Voters
440 Fifth St, Second Floor, Rm 206
Hollister, CA 95023-3843
Phone: (831) 636-4016
Fax: (831) 636-2939
San Bernardino San Bernardino Registrar of Voters
777 E Rialto Ave
San Bernardino, CA 92415-1005
Phone: (909) 387-8300
Fax: (909) 386-8388
San Diego San Diego Registrar of Voters
P.O. Box 85902
San Diego, CA 92186-5902
Phone: (858) 565-5800
Fax: (858) 467-9670
San Francisco San Francisco Elections, City Hall
1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Pl, Rm 48
San Francisco, CA 94102-4605
Phone: (415) 554-4375
Fax: (415) 554-4372
San Joaquin San Joaquin Registrar of Voters
P.O. Box 810
Stockton, CA 95201-3010
Phone: (209) 468-2890
Fax: (209) 468-9534
San Luis Obispo San Luis Obispo County Clerk-Elections
1055 Monterey St, Suite D120
San Luis Obispo, CA 93408-1003
Phone: (805) 781-5228
Fax: (805) 781-1111
San Mateo San Mateo County Clerk - Elections
40 Tower Rd
San Mateo, CA 94402-4035
Phone: (650) 312-5222
Fax: (650) 312-5348
Santa Barbara Santa Barbara County Clerk-Elections
P.O. Box 61510
Santa Barbara, CA 93160-1510
Phone: (833) 421-0251
Fax: (805) 681-4003
Santa Clara Santa Clara Registrar of Voters
1555 Berger Dr. Bldg 2
San Jose, CA 95112-2716
Phone: (408) 282-0210
Fax: (408) 293-6002
Santa Cruz Santa Cruz County Clerk - Elections
701 Ocean St, Rm 310
Santa Cruz, CA 95060-4035
Phone: (831) 454-2060
Fax: (831) 454-2445
Shasta Shasta County Clerk-Elections
1643 Market St.
Redding, CA 96001-1022
Phone: (530) 225-5730
Fax: (530) 225-5454
Sierra Sierra County Clerk-Elections
100 Courthouse Square, Room 11, P.O. Drawer D
Downieville, CA 95936-0398
Phone: (530) 289-3295
Fax: (530) 289-2830
Siskiyou Siskiyou County Clerk-Elections
311 Fourth St., Room 201
Yreka, CA 96097-2525
Phone: (530) 842-8084
Fax: (530) 841-4110
Solano Solano Registrar of Voters
675 Texas St, Ste 2600
Fairfield, CA 94533-6338
Phone: (707) 784-6675
Fax: (707) 784-1424
Sonoma Sonoma County Clerk, Registrar of Voters
435 Fiscal Drive
Santa Rosa, CA 95403
Phone: (707) 565-6803
Fax: (707) 565-6862
Stanislaus Stanislaus County Clerk, Registrar of Voters
1021 I St, Ste 101
Modesto, CA 95354-2331
Phone: (209) 525-5201
Fax: (209) 525-5803
Sutter Sutter County Clerk-Elections
1435 Veterans Memorial Cir
Yuba City, CA 95993-3011
Phone: (530) 525-5235
Fax: (530) 822-7587
Tehama Tehama County Clerk-Elections
P.O. Box 250
Red Bluff, CA 96080-0250
Phone: (530) 527-8190
Fax: (530) 527-1140
Trinity Trinity County Clerk - Elections
P.O. Box 1215
Weaverville, CA 96093-1215
Phone: (530) 623-1220
Fax: (530) 623-8398
Tulare Tulare County Registrar of Voters
5300 W. Tulare Ave. Ste 105
Visalia, CA 93277-9394
Phone: 559-839-2100
Fax: 559-615-3019
Tuolumne Tuolumne County Clerk - Elections
2 S Green St
Sonora, CA 95370-4618
Phone: (209) 533-5570
Fax: (209) 694-8931
Ventura Ventura County Clerk-Elections
Hall of Administration, Lower Plaza 800 S Victoria Ave, L 1200
Ventura, CA 93009-1200
Phone: (805) 654-2664
Fax: (805) 654-3989
Yolo Yolo County Elections Department
625 Court St., Room B05
Woodland, CA 95695-3475
Phone: (530) 666-8133
Fax: (530) 666-8123
Yuba Yuba County Clerk
915 8th St, Ste 107
Marysville, CA 95901-5273
Phone: (530) 749-7855
Fax: (530) 749-7854