Primary 2026: Still Need to Vote on Election Day? Here’s Where to Do It (and Why You Shouldn’t Mail Your Ballot)

Keep reading for all the ways you can vote on Tuesday. If you still want to learn more about the candidates and measures on your ballot, including the candidates vying for state governor, take a look at our comprehensive KQED voter guide.

And if you’ve already filled out your ballot but you’re worried you’ve made a mistake, read our guide on addressing common ballot errors before you submit it. The good news: If you’re really concerned, you still have options to get a fresh ballot or vote in person, even on Tuesday.

I’ve filled out my ballot. Where can I submit it?

First, make sure you’ve signed the back of your ballot and included the right date and your address. (It can be easy to forget when you’re rushing.) Then:

Find a secure election drop box near you

Visit the state of California lookup tool, where you can:

• Enter your county (adding your city or ZIP code will give more localized results, but it’s optional).
• Check the “Drop Off Location” box.
• Hit “Search” to see all the drop-off locations in that area.

Submit it at a voting location near you

Use the state of California lookup tool and check the “Early Voting” box to see all the Election Day voting locations near you. You can then take your ballot to one of these locations and hand-deliver it there.

Another perk of dropping off your ballot at a voting location during operating hours: If 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.

Don’t mail your ballot using USPS on Tuesday

Remember: State officials — and USPS — stress that you shouldn’t mail your ballot on Election Day, because there’s a real risk it might be postmarked too late for it to be counted at this stage.

Instead, find a secure official election drop box or take it to an open voting location and submit it there. You can also take it to the counter at an open post office on Tuesday and ask them to postmark it today.

Regardless of how you deliver it, you can sign up to track your ballot’s progress with the “Where’s My Ballot?” online tool, for reassurance that it’s on its way to being counted.

Where can I vote in person on Election Day?

Until 8 p.m. on Election Day, in-person voting is still available at every county registrar’s office (also known as your county’s elections office) in the Bay Area. If you’re a San Francisco voter, this location will be City Hall. Find your county registrar’s office and opening hours.

Check your mail-in ballot to see where you can vote and whether you’ve been assigned a specific polling place.

If you live in San Francisco, Contra Costa or Solano counties:

You are assigned a specific polling place, though Contra Costa County election officials say they can process your ballot no matter where you show up to vote.

But even if you live in a county that assigns you a particular polling place, you can still vote at your county registrar’s office.

If you live in Alameda, Marin, Napa, San Mateo, Santa Clara or Sonoma counties:

You can vote at any voting location — known as Vote Centers — including your county registrar’s office.

You can find your voting location through the state’s lookup tool.

Do I need to bring my ballot with me?

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.

I still need to register to vote. Can I do this on Election Day?

If you’ve changed your name or the political party choice that you previously registered to vote with, or you’ve moved addresses, you’ll need to reregister.

You can’t do this online on Election Day, but you can still complete the same-day voter registration process (also known as “conditional voting”) and request your ballot in person at your county elections office or polling location. This system enables you to fill out and submit your ballot then and there, up until polls close at 8 p.m. on Tuesday.

In addition to voter registration, many voting locations also offer replacement ballots, accessible voting machines and language assistance.

How can I contact my county directly about voting?

• Alameda: For information about voting by mail, registration and polling place lookup, call 510-267-8683.
• Contra Costa: Call 925-335-7800 or email voter.services@vote.cccounty.us.
• Marin: Call 415-473-6456 or go to the Marin County elections webpage to send a form email.
• Napa: Call 707-253-4321 or email the elections office at elections@countyofnapa.org.
• San Francisco: Call 415-554-4375 or email sfvote@sfgov.org.
• San Mateo: Call 888-762-8683 or email registrar@smcacre.org.
• Santa Clara: Call toll-free at 866-430-VOTE (8683)​ or email registrar@rov.sccgov.org.
• Solano: Call 707-784-6675 or 888-933-VOTE (8683). You can also email elections@solanocounty.com.
• Sonoma: Call 707-565-6800 or toll-free at 800-750-8683.

The state also has a full list of every county elections office in California.