California General Election 2026: What to Know Before You Vote
Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Here’s how to make a plan to vote in Los Angeles County.
Election information can get overwhelming pretty quickly. So, rather than add to the noise, we pulled together the basics in one place.
This guide is nonpartisan. PFLAG Los Angeles does not tell anyone whom or what to vote for. We simply want LGBTQ+ people, families, friends, and allies to have accurate information and the opportunity to participate.
When can I vote?
Los Angeles County Vote Centers are already open for early voting:
October 24–November 2: 10 a.m.–7 p.m.
Election Day, November 3: 7 a.m.–8 p.m.
Unlike the old neighborhood polling-place system, Los Angeles County voters may cast a ballot at any participating Vote Center in the county.
Can I still register to vote?
Yes, potentially.
The regular online registration deadline was October 19, but eligible California residents who missed it may still use Same Day Voter Registration, also called Conditional Voter Registration, through Election Day.
In Los Angeles County, you can visit a Vote Center, complete the registration process, and cast a conditional ballot. This also applies if you need to update your registration after moving or changing your name.
Learn about Same Day Voter Registration
What should I do with my vote-by-mail ballot?
If you still have your ballot, don’t forget the return envelope. Complete the required information, then sign and date the envelope.
You can return it:
At an official ballot drop box
At any Los Angeles County Vote Center
At the county elections office
By mail
Drop boxes and Vote Centers can accept ballots until 8 p.m. on November 3. Ballots sent through the mail must be postmarked no later than Election Day and received by the county within seven days. If you are returning yours close to the deadline, an official drop box or Vote Center may offer more certainty than an ordinary mailbox.
Find an official ballot drop box
Can I track my ballot?
Yes. California’s official Where’s My Ballot? service can send updates by text, email, or voice call. It can tell you when your completed ballot reaches the county and whether it has been accepted. If there is a problem, the notification may also explain what you need to do.
Sign up for Where’s My Ballot?
You can also use California’s My Voter Status tool to check your registration and election information.
What assistance is available?
Voting should be accessible.
Los Angeles County Vote Centers offer accessible ballot-marking devices, curbside voting, wheelchair-accessible equipment, adjustable text and contrast, audio features, and assistance from election workers. Remote Accessible Vote-by-Mail is also available for voters who need it.
Review voting accessibility options
Language assistance is available at Vote Centers and through the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk. Election materials and oral assistance are offered in multiple languages. For help, call 800-815-2666 and select option 3.
Before you go
A few small steps may make Election Day easier:
Check your registration or Same Day Registration options.
Look up a Vote Center and its hours.
Review your official sample ballot.
Bring your vote-by-mail ballot if you plan to surrender it or drop it off.
Give yourself enough time, especially near the end of the day.
For a personalized overview of your options, visit the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk’s official election-information page.
Our voices belong in the process
For many LGBTQ+ people and families, public policy is not abstract. It can shape what happens at school, at work, at the doctor’s office, and around the dinner table. People may hold different views about candidates or individual measures, but everyone deserves reliable information and a meaningful chance to take part.
However you vote, make a plan—and help someone you care about make theirs.
Election Day: Tuesday, November 3, 2026
California polls: 7 a.m.–8 p.m.
PFLAG Los Angeles is a nonpartisan nonprofit organization. This post is provided for voter education and does not endorse or oppose any candidate or political party. Election information was verified on October 21, 2026; consult official election websites for subsequent updates.
