California’s 2026 primary election ballots land in Shasta County mailboxes the week of May 4.
On Shasta County ballots are hot races for county clerk and elections officer and for district 1 and 5 supervisors. Shasta voters join other Californians deciding who will be on the November ballot in statewide races for the next governor and other state offices.
Here’s who can vote in California elections, deadlines to cast a ballot, how to get a replacement ballot and how to be an election observer or poll worker.
Register to vote in California
Online: Californians can register to vote on the California Secretary of State’s elections office website at registertovote.ca.gov. You’ll need your California driver license or California identification card number, the last four digits of your social security number and your date of birth. Without state ID you can still register, but you’ll need to “take additional steps,” according to the the state.
By mail: Call the Shasta County Elections office at 530-225-5730. Ask their staff to mail you a registration card.
In person: Shasta County residents can pick up registration materials at 1450 Court St. suite 108 or at 1643 Market St., both in Redding. Those who wish to also vote at the same time they register must come to the Market Street office. Hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The office stays open until 8 p.m. on Election Day.
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Who can vote in California
To register to vote in California you must be a U.S. citizen and state resident who’s at least 18 years old by Election Day. You can’t be “currently serving a state or federal prison term for the conviction of a felony” or have been declared mentally incompetent by a court.
Find out if you’re registered to vote in California
Call or visit the elections office, or go to elections.shastacounty.gov and see the Voter Registration dropdown. Click on Registration Information and type in your date of birth, street address and zip code to see if you’re registered.
See a list of county elections offices on the California Secretary of State’s website at sos.ca.gov/elections/voting-resources/county-elections-offices.
Deadline to register to vote in the June 2 primary election
The deadline to register in time for the Presidential Election is Monday, May 18, according to the state.
The state also allows for conditional registration in person after the deadline passes up to Election Day. Visit the county elections office to do so.
People who don’t live in Shasta can vote here
Voters from any California county can drop off their ballot at any other California county’s official polling place from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day, June 2.
Visitors who need a replacement ballot must contact their own county’s elections office.
Early voting starts in 2026 primary election
Every registered California voter will be sent a ballot by mail. First ballots go into the mail on Monday, May 4, the California Secretary of State’s elections office reported. If you don’t receive your ballot within several days, call or visit the county elections office.
Ballot drop-off locations open Tuesday, May 5.
Last day you can vote in California
To be counted, ballots must be postmarked on or before Election Day, June 2, or dropped off no later than 8 p.m. that day.
Vote-by-mail ballots postmarked on or before Election Day must be received by June 9 — seven days after Election Day.
Cast your California ballot
In person on Election Day: Drop off your ballot at the elections office or any official polling place in California from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on June 2.
By mail: Mail in your ballot using the instructions on the envelope. Remember to sign your ballot and put it in the envelope provided before mailing.
By dropping it off: Drop off your ballot at the Shasta County Elections Office or at an official ballot drop box location. All drop boxes close no later than at 8 p.m. on Election Day — and some close earlier.
For a list of drop box locations and hours accessible go to elections.shastacounty.gov/ballot-drop-boxes.
Find your California polling place
Check the back of your sample ballot booklet for your polling place, or look it up at elections.shastacounty.gov/voter-profile, or call or visit the elections office.
Check if your ballot was counted
Voters who mailed in their ballot can find out if it arrived at the elections office. Go to ‘Vote-by-Mail Ballot Lookup at sos.ca.gov/elections/ballot-status/wheres-my-ballot and type in your address. For provisional ballots go to “Provisional Ballot Lookup.” If you receive the message “No voter information was found,” call the elections office.
Voters can also sign up to receive updates at shastavotes.ballottrax.net/voter/.
In both cases, be sure to enter your information exactly the way the website instructs.
Request replacement for lost, damaged California ballot
You can request a replacement vote-by-mail ballot up to seven days before the election. Go to elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov/vote-by-mail/pdf/replacement-application.pdf to fill out a printable ballot replacement form, or pick one up at either county elections office. Forms must be turned in directly to the elections office.
Follow the same instructions if you changed your address.
If voter’s signatures don’t match
The elections office will notify you if the signature on your ballot doesn’t match the one on your voter registration. If that happens, you’ll need to fill out a signature verification statement and submit it to the elections office.
Jessica Skropanic is a features reporter for the Record Searchlight/USA Today Network. She covers science, arts, social issues and news stories. Follow her on Twitter @RS_JSkropanic and on Facebook. Join Jessica on Record Searchlight Facebook groups Get Out! Nor Cal , Today in Shasta County and Shaping Redding’s Future. To support and sustain this work, please subscribe today. Thank you.
This article originally appeared on Redding Record Searchlight: Voter guide to 2026 primary election in Shasta County
Reporting by Jessica Skropanic, Redding Record Searchlight / Redding Record Searchlight
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
