Vote-by-mail ballots in California’s 2026 primary will be sent to voters starting Monday, May 4, kicking off the state’s monthlong election season, which features several key races.
The primary election day in California is June 2, but voters have several weeks beforehand to cast their ballots by mail or at drop-off locations. A crowded field of candidates is competing in the gubernatorial race and for many congressional seats during the 2026 cycle. The primary will winnow down the field to the top two finishers in each race, regardless of party, who will advance to the November general election.
Secure ballot drop-off locations will open starting May 5, and vote-by-mail ballots can be returned at any of those locations, their county elections office or by mail.
When does in-person early voting start in California primary?
In Riverside County and other California counties participating in the Voter’s Choice Act, vote centers for early in-person voting will open Saturday, May 23. (In-person early voting locations across the rest of California will begin operating Saturday, May 30.)
When is the last day to vote in California primary?
June 2, the state’s official election day, is the last day to vote in person or return a vote-by-mail ballot, with polls open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Vote-by-mail ballots must be postmarked no later than June 2. If mailing on Election Day, the California Secretary of State’s office advises voters to get a hand-stamped postmark from a postal employee inside a United States post office.
What’s on the ballot in California primary? Who’s running for governor?
California uses a “jungle primary” system, meaning all candidates run on the same ballot. The top two finishers advance to the November general election, even if they’re from the same party.
In the race to succeed Gov. Gavin Newsom in Sacramento, the top candidates include:
Other notable Democratic candidates include Matt Mahan, Antonio Villaraigosa, and Tony Thurmond. An additional 51 candidates are also running for governor. A list of candidates and their titles can be found here.
Eric Swalwell, a Democratic U.S. representative from the Bay Area, was a frontrunner but dropped from the race on Sunday, April 12, amid sexual assault allegations.
Democratic candidate Betty Yee, a former California State controller, announced the suspension of her campaign Monday, April 20, citing low funding and struggles to capture voters.
Swalwell and Yee will still be listed as candidates for governor even though they’ve ended their campaigns. Under California election rules, once the list of candidates is certified and ballots are being prepared, officials generally do not remove names, so withdrawals that happen after that deadline do not change what appears on your ballot.
Other races that will appear on the June primary ballot include:
An array of county-level positions will also be on the primary ballot. (In some counties, including Riverside County, a candidate for a county-level position can win outright in the primary by obtaining a majority of the vote. If none of the candidates receive over 50% of the vote, the top two finishers advance to a run-off in November.)
Key dates for California’s June primary
Some key dates for the June primary include:
How to register to vote in June California primary
You can register to vote or check your registration status online through the California Secretary of State’s website. To register online, you will need to share your California driver’s license or identification card number, the last four digits of your Social Security number and your date of birth.
How to track your June California primary ballot
You can track the status of your ballot using the state’s Where’s My Ballot tracking tool.
The tool allows you to track when your ballot is mailed, received and counted. It also allows you to sign up for automatic email, text or voice call notifications about your ballot’s status.
This story includes prior reporting from Desert Sun reporter Daniella Segura
Tom Coulter covers local government and politics for The Desert Sun. Reach him at thomas.coulter@desertsun.com.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Primary ballots mailed to California voters soon. What to know
Reporting by Tom Coulter, Palm Springs Desert Sun / Palm Springs Desert Sun
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