2026 General Elections – San Diego County

Every active registered voter will receive a ballot in the mail the week of October 5. You have options on how you’d like to cast your ballot:

You may complete your ballot in the comfort of your home, sign and date your return envelope, seal your completed ballot inside, and return it by mail or at any official ballot drop box:

• Mail It: Return your ballot promptly through the U.S. Postal Service. Must be postmarked no later than Tuesday, November 3; or
• Drop It Off: From Tuesday, October 6, until 8pm on Tuesday, November 3, drop off your ballot at any of the Registrar’s official ballot drop boxes located throughout the county.

Visit: If you prefer to visit a vote center, you can bring your mail ballot or vote on a Ballot Marking Device. You have several opportunities during the early voting period to cast your ballot:

• Starting Saturday, October 24: Select vote centers will be open daily from 8am to 5pm.
• Starting Saturday, October 31: All vote centers will be open daily from 8am to 5pm.
• Election Day – Tuesday, November 3: Last day to vote! All vote centers, official ballot drop boxes and the registrar’s office will be open from 7am-8pm. Depending on location, most drop boxes are open 24 hours, until 8pm on Election Day.

• SEPT. 24 – Voter Information pamphlets start going out to registered voters
• OCT. 5 – Ballots start going out to registered voters
• OCT. 5 – Early voting begins at the registrar’s office: Monday – Friday, 8am-5pm
• OCT 6 – Official ballot drop boxes open daily through November 3. Visit sdvote.com for locations and hours of operation.
• OCT. 19 –Voter registration deadline.
• OCT. 20 – If you missed the registration deadline, you can still conditionally register and vote provisionally at the registrar’s office or any vote center around the county through Election Day, November 3.
• OCT. 24 – Vote early! Select vote centers open daily from 8am-5pm.
• OCT. 31 – All vote centers open daily from 8am to 5pm.
• NOV. 3 – Election Day, last day to vote! All vote centers and official ballot drop boxes are open from 7am to 8pm. Depending on location, most drop boxes are open 24 hours, until 8pm on Election Day. Vote-by-mail ballots must be postmarked no later than November 3. If mailing on Election Day, get a hand-stamped postmark from a postal employee inside a United States Post Office.
• DEC. 3 – Deadline to certify the election.

Printable flyer version of this information from the San Diego County Registrar of Voters: 2026 General Election

• Check your voter registration: Voter Information Lookup
• Register to vote: Register to Vote
• How to vote by mail: How To Vote By Mail
• What to expect at vote centers: Vote Center – What to Expect
• Vote center locations: List | Map
• Drop box locations: List | Map
• Track your ballot: Where’s My Ballot

San Diego County Registrar of Voters
5600 Overland Ave., San Diego, CA 92123
Open 8am-5pm, Monday through Friday
(There may be expanded hours during election season)
Phone: (858) 565-5800 | Email: rovmail@sdcounty.ca.gov