The 2024 general election is almost upon us, and your ballot should have arrived in your mailbox by now. (And if it hasn’t, read our guide to what to do if your ballot has gone missing.)
While Election Day itself is Tuesday, Nov. 5, you have several options for where to vote before then — especially now that early voting locations are opening up around the Bay Area starting Saturday, Oct. 26.
So keep reading if you’re a Bay Area resident wondering where to drop off your completed mail-in ballot, where you can vote early in person or how to find your polling place on Election Day itself.
And if you’re looking for information about what’s on your ballot, take a look at KQED’s Voter Guide, which unpacks ballot measures and compares candidates in every race in the Bay Area.
Jump straight to:
- How to find my early voting site or ballot drop-off location
- How to find my polling place for Election Day
- How to contact my county directly about voting
If you’re concerned you might have made a mistake when filling out your ballot, you can also read our guide to addressing common errors on your ballot (before you mail it) — and find out how to get a fresh ballot or vote in person if you really messed up.
Can I mail my ballot through the Postal Service?
Yes, you can mail your completed ballot via the U.S. Postal Service at any regular collection box. The envelope is postage paid, so it doesn’t require a stamp, and it’ll be counted as long as it’s postmarked by Election Day (Nov. 5) and arrives at your county registrar’s office by Nov. 12.
If you’re planning to mail your ballot on Election Day, be very sure you don’t miss the last collection time for that specific mailbox (which at many locations is 5 p.m. or earlier). You also shouldn’t drop off your ballot on Election Day at a post office that’s already closed. Doing either will mean your ballot will not be postmarked on Election Day and won’t be counted when it reaches your county’s election office.
Can I drop off my ballot in a drop box or at a voting location?
Once you complete your mail-in ballot, you can drop it off at an official drop box or voting location instead of mailing it via a U.S. Postal Service collection box. Ballot drop boxes open on Oct. 8.
A few reasons you might prefer to hand-deliver your completed ballot:
- Peace of mind: There’s a satisfaction that comes with knowing your ballot should now travel straight to your county elections office rather than going through USPS collection and sorting for delivery
- Timing: If Election Day is drawing near, using a drop box or a voting location to drop off your ballot directly is the best way to be sure it’ll reach your county elections office in time to be counted
- Assistance: If you drop off your ballot at a voting location during operating hours and you have a few lingering questions about your ballot or the process, chances are good that you’ll find someone there to help answer them
Regardless of how you deliver it, you can sign up to track your ballot’s progress with the “Where’s My Ballot?” online tool and be reassured it’s on its way to being counted.
And if you’re still waiting to receive your ballot entirely, you can use that same tool to verify it was sent out or use voterstatus.sos.ca.gov. Read more about what to do if your ballot has gone missing.
I want to vote in person. When is early voting available in the Bay Area?
As of Oct. 5, in-person voting is available at every county registrar’s office (also known as your county’s elections office) in the Bay Area. Find your county registrar’s office and opening hours.
More early voting locations are open across the Bay Area starting Oct. 26. Find where to vote early in your county and when those locations open.
Remember: If you’d like to cast a ballot in person, it’s a good idea to bring the blank ballot you were mailed, as some counties may require you to vote provisionally if you don’t bring it. If you’re issued a new ballot when you vote in person, any ballot you left at home will be canceled.
Provisional votes are subject to extra checks — confirming that you’re actually registered to vote in California, or that you didn’t already complete and mail your ballot — and this extra layer of confirmation takes time. That means that although your vote will eventually be counted, it might not be tallied on Election Day itself.
