Sample ballots show you the elections and candidates and any ballot measures that will be on your real ballot. But they will not provide information about the candidates like voter guides do. Your state may mail you a sample ballot or let you download one from your state election office website. That sample ballot may look exactly like the real one.
You can bring your notes, a voter's guide, or a sample ballot into the voting booth. This frees you from having to memorize your choices for candidates and ballot initiatives. Some polling places do restrict cell phone use, so bring paper copies instead of using your phone. Check the rules with your local election office before you go.
The day after the election
When your vote-by-mail ballot is received by your county elections official, your signature on the return envelope will be compared to the signature(s) in your voter registration record. To preserve the secrecy of your ballot, the ballot will then be separated from the return envelope, and then it will be tallied.
All valid vote-by-mail ballots are counted in every election in California, regardless of the outcome or closeness of any race. For additional information on how and when ballots are verified and tabulated, please visit our description of how the official canvass of the vote is completed.
When you registered to vote, you were asked to fill in your driver license number, California identification number, or the last four digits of your Social Security number. If you are a first-time voter in a federal election and did not include this information when you registered, send a photocopy of some personal identification to your county elections official before the election.
A copy of a recent utility bill, the county Voter Information Guide you received from your county elections office, or another document sent to you by a government agency are examples of acceptable forms of identification. Other examples include your passport, driver license, official California identification card, or student identification card.
California Elections Code section 3017(c) requires county elections officials to establish procedures to track and confirm the receipt of voted vote-by-mail ballots and to make this information available by means of an online access system using the county's elections division web site or via a toll-free telephone number.
If you failed to receive your vote-by-mail ballot or if you have lost or destroyed your original vote-by-mail ballot, you may apply in writing for a replacement vote-by-mail ballot. This application must be provided to your county elections official. (Elec. Code, 3014(a).)
If you need a second vote-by-mail ballot, you may apply in writing for a vote-by-mail ballot to be provided to your representative. This application must be provided in person to your county elections office by your representative. (Elec. Code, 3014(b).)
As a military or overseas voter, in order to receive your election materials and vote when you are absent from your county while serving and/or living overseas, you need to be registered as a military or overseas voter by completing the California Online Voter Registration (COVR) application or by completing the Federal Post Card Application (FPCA). The FPCA is available from the Federal Voting Assistance Program.
No states allow hand-delivered ballots to be returned after Election Day, but five require hand-delivered ballots to be received before Election Day: Arkansas, Connecticut, Louisiana, North Dakota and Vermont.
Thirty tates require absentee/mail ballots returned by mail to be received on or before Election Day. Nineteen tates, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and Washington, D.C., however, will accept and count a mailed ballot if it is received after Election Day but postmarked on or before (sometimes only before) Election Day. Because what constitutes a postmark is changing and less mail gets truly postmarked, many states will accept an Intelligent Mail barcode (IMb) as evidence.
Must be received by the close of polls on Election Day. Hand-delivered ballots must be received the day before an election if delivered by the voter and by the close of polls on Election Day if delivered by a designated agent.
Must be received by 5 p.m. on the fourth day following the election if postmarked by Election Day. Ballots with unclear postmarks received by the third day following the election are deemed to have been postmarked on or before Election Day.
Must be received before the canvass (which takes place before 4 p.m. on the eighth day after the election) if postmarked by the day before Election Day. Hand-delivered ballots must be received by 5 p.m. on the day before Election Day.
Our organization does not run elections and cannot provide legal advice. If you are a voter looking for assistance, please contact your local election official. You can find your local election official's website and contact information by using this database from the US Vote Foundation.
We are constantly reviewing and updating our website to reflect the most up-to-date language translations and elections information. If you discover an issue with translations or the links to our website, please let us know at info@elections.virginia.gov
3If no candidate for a four-year term has filed an application for a place on the ballot for a city office, the filing deadline for that office is extended to 5 p.m. of the 57th day before the election. For the May 7, 2022 election, this is Friday, March 11, 2022. See Section 143.008 of the Code.
1 For the few entities who do not have a first day to file: For the May 6, 2023 election, Wednesday, January 18, 2023 is the deadline to post notice of candidate filing deadline for local political subdivisions that do not have a first day to file for their candidates. For the November 7, 2023 election, Saturday, July 22, 2023 is the deadline to post notice of candidate filing deadline for local political subdivisions that do not have a first day to file for their candidates.
Local political subdivisions include: cities, school districts, water districts, hospital districts, and any other local government entity that conducts elections. Many of these elections are conducted on the May uniform election date. Note: Counties may also be holding local proposition (measure) elections on May 6, 2023.
3 If no candidate for a four-year term has filed an application for a place on the ballot for a city office, the filing deadline for that office is extended to 5 p.m. of the 57th day before the election. For the May 6, 2023 election, this is Friday, March 10, 2023. For the November 7, 2023 election, this is Monday, September 11, 2023. See Section 143.008 of the Code.
5 Section 2051.201 of the Government Code requires all political subdivisions with the authority to impose a tax maintain a publicly accessible Internet website and post the date and location of the next election for officers of the political subdivision and the requirements and deadline for filing for candidacy of each elected office of the political subdivision, which shall be continuously posted for at least one year before the election day for the office.
Tuesday, May 28, 2024 (Election Day) at 7:00 p.m. if carrier envelope is not postmarked, OR Wednesday, May 29, 2024 (next business day after Election Day) at 5:00 p.m. if carrier envelope is postmarked by 7:00 p.m. at the location of the election on Election Day (unless overseas or military voter deadlines apply)4
1 For the few entities who do not have a first day to file: For the May 4, 2024 election, Wednesday, January 17, 2024 is the deadline to post notice of candidate filing deadline for local political subdivisions that do not have a first day to file for their candidates. For the November 5, 2024 election, Saturday, July 20, 2024 is the deadline to post notice of candidate filing deadline for local political subdivisions that do not have a first day to file for their candidates.
Local political subdivisions include: cities, school districts, water districts, hospital districts, and any other local government entity that conducts elections. Many of these elections are conducted on the May uniform election date.
3 If no candidate for a four-year term has filed an application for a place on the ballot for a city office, the filing deadline for that office is extended to 5 p.m. of the 57th day before the election. For the May 4, 2024 election, this is Friday, March 8, 2024. See Section 143.008 of the Code.
If the voter registration deadline has passed, you can still register to vote and vote in person at a designated Election Day Registration office from 6am to 8pm during general elections if you are not registered in Connecticut or are registered in another Connecticut municipality. Contact your Local Election Office if you have any questions.
You can also register in person (and vote) at your local elections office during the "grace period." The grace period starts 27 days before Election Day and ends on Election Day. Grace Period Voting does not take place at your regular polling place. Grace Period Voting is typically available at your Local Election Office. Contact your Local Election Office for more information.
If you register to vote within 21 days of an election, including on Election Day, you must register in person at the municipal registrar. Proof of identity and proof of residence is required. Contact your Local Election Office with any questions. 2ff7e9595c
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