November 3, 2026, General Election & Voter FAQs

Look up your assigned polling place

• UPDATE: Ballots have been mailed to all active registered voters. Our election web page includes a list of drop box locations, and the SLO Elections Office is open Mon-Fri 8am to 5pm and Saturday, October 31 from 9am to 3pm. If you have not received your mail ballot by October 12, give us a call at 805-781-5228.
  
  
• New for this election: Voters can take their Vote-by-Mail ballot to their assigned polling location on Election Day, check in, and cast that ballot at the gray precinct ballot box. Whether you bring it already voted or choose to fill it out there at the poll is up to you. In either case, it will be counted along with precinct ballots on Election Night.
  
  Vote-by-Mail ballots in a signed return envelope can still be dropped off at any voting location in California. To return your Vote-by-Mail ballot without an envelope, you must go to your assigned polling place.
  
  
• High schools around SLO County are participating in the 2026 High School Voter Registration Competition, which runs through October 19. Get involved today!
  
  
• NEW HOURS: Beginning October 5, the Clerk-Recorder's Office will close to the public at 4:00 Monday through Friday. The Elections window will remain open until 5:00 pm Monday through Friday from October 5 until the conclusion of the canvass (late November).
  
  
• REMINDER: The SLO County Elections office never sends text messages regarding your voter registration. The only time you would receive a text would be regarding your ballot status, and only if you signed up for text alerts at WheresMyBallot.sos.ca.gov.
  
  If you receive a text asking you to confirm your voter registration status (or asking you to provide ANY personal info), we urge you to be careful and investigate the organization or person making the request before sharing your data.
  
  
• Are you a college student? We've got a fact sheet about voting as a college student in SLO County.
  
  
• Have you heard about the City of SLO's move to Citywide Single Vote? Read our SLOCSV FAQs to better understand how and why the process of voting for SLO city council will change this November. (Note: This only applies to voters within the City of SLO.)
  
  
• Some fees increased on July 1, 2026. View the updated fee list.
  
  
• You can now search our website by key word by clicking on "Search our site" in the menu to the left. Also: Here's a list of all the places you can find us on social media. 

DEPARTMENT MISSION: In pursuit of a well-governed community, the County Clerk-Recorder will ensure the integrity of the election process and the records maintained by the office and provide access to these public records by complying with all applicable laws, employing technology to its fullest, and wisely spending the public funds entrusted to us while serving our customers with courteous and well-trained staff.