How to vote in San Diego County on November 3, 2026
Every registered voter gets a mail ballot the week of October 5; return it by mail (postmarked by November 3, no stamp needed), at a drop box through 8 p.m. on Election Day, or at a vote center — and if you missed the October 19 registration deadline, you can still register and vote the same day at a vote center.
- Register by (standard)
- Mon, Oct 19, 2026
- Ballots arrive
- Week of Oct 5
- Mail postmark by
- Tue, Nov 3
- Registrar phone
- (858) 565-5800
The short version
- County ballots arrive the week of October 5, 2026; official drop boxes are open October 4 through 8 p.m. November 3.
- Last day to register normally: Monday, October 19. From October 20 through November 3, use Conditional Voter Registration at a vote center or the Registrar's office.
- Vote centers open in phases: select sites October 24, all sites October 31 (8 a.m.–5 p.m.), and 7 a.m.–8 p.m. on Election Day.
- Early in-person voting starts October 5 at the Registrar of Voters, 5600 Overland Ave. in Kearny Mesa, weekdays 8 a.m.–5 p.m.
- Track your ballot with the Secretary of State's free Where's My Ballot alerts.
If you moved to San Diego this year, this is the part people miss: California runs its elections by mail, and San Diego County uses vote centers instead of a single assigned polling place. You can vote from your kitchen table weeks early, or walk into any vote center in the county. Here's the calendar and the rules that decide whether your ballot counts. (This tip covers how to vote, not what's on the ballot — your voter information pamphlet has that.)
The November 2026 voting calendar
San Diego County Registrar of Voters and California Secretary of State.
Three ways to return your ballot
| By mail | Drop box | Vote center | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost | Free — no postage needed | Free | Free |
| Deadline | Postmarked on or before Nov 3 | By 8 p.m. Nov 3 | In line by 8 p.m. Nov 3 |
| Tip | The state recommends mailing at least 7 days before Election Day | Locations are in your voter pamphlet and on sdvote.com | Any vote center in the county; also where same-day registration happens |
| Verdict | — | No postmark worries | — |
Just moved here? Read this
- Registering at your new San Diego address is what gets you a ballot here. Do it online at registertovote.ca.gov by October 19.
- Missed it? Conditional Voter Registration lets you register and vote the same day, October 20 through November 3, at a vote center or the Registrar's office. Your ballot is counted once your registration is verified.
- Moved within the county since you last voted? Update your address, or your ballot goes to the old one.
- You'll need to be a U.S. citizen, a California resident and at least 18 by Election Day.
2M+
Registered voters receiving pamphlets in the county
30 days
Ballots in hand before Election Day, roughly
13 hrs
Vote center hours on Election Day (7 a.m.–8 p.m.)
Four things that prevent problems
- 01
Check your registration
Use the Secretary of State's voter status lookup, or call the Registrar at (858) 565-5800 or (800) 696-0136.
- 02
Sign up for Where's My Ballot
wheresmyballot.sos.ca.gov texts or emails you when your ballot is mailed, received and counted.
- 03
Sign the envelope
A missing or mismatched signature is the most common fixable problem; the Registrar will contact you to cure it.
- 04
Return it early
Drop boxes and vote centers remove any doubt about postmarks.
KEEP READING
SOURCES
Everything above traces back to one of these. Follow them — if one has changed and we haven't, that's our mistake, not yours.
County of San Diego News Center · 2026-09-25
Ballot mailing week, drop box dates, vote center phases, Registrar hours and phones
California Secretary of State · 2026
Oct 19 registration, CVR Oct 20–Nov 3, postmark rule, Where's My Ballot
- PrimaryElection information
San Diego County Registrar of Voters · 2026-09-29