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If your California mail ballot for the November 3, 2026 general election never arrived, is lost, or is damaged, contact your county elections office promptly or apply for a replacement using the state’s official process. October 27 is the state’s recommended date to request a replacement, not a cutoff: if that date has passed, contact your county for your current options. Only the registered voter may request the replacement.

My California ballot never arrived, or it is lost or damaged—what should I do?

  1. Check your registration address. Confirm that you are registered at the address where you expected the ballot to arrive.
  2. Contact your county elections office promptly. You can request a replacement from the county by phone, email, fax, or another electronic method. County contact information is available through the California county elections offices directory.
  3. Use the state replacement application if you prefer. California’s official voter information guide explains how to apply for a replacement when a ballot was not received, lost, or damaged: Vote-by-mail information.

The request must come from the registered voter themself. The Secretary of State warns that it is a criminal offense for another person to request a replacement ballot on the voter’s behalf. If someone is helping you, they can assist with finding the county contact details, but you must make the request.

Can I still get a replacement ballot if it is late?

For the November 3, 2026 general election, California recommends requesting a replacement by October 27. That is a recommended date, not a statutory final cutoff. If October 27 has passed—or Election Day is approaching—contact your county elections office immediately to ask what replacement and voting options remain available in your county.

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County arrangements, office hours, and available locations vary. The county elections office is the source for the current options in your area.

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What if I already completed my ballot?

If you have the ballot and can return it, use the deadline for the method you choose. For this election, a ballot returned by mail must be postmarked on or before November 3, 2026, and received by the county by November 10. A ballot delivered in person must reach an authorized location by 8:00 p.m. on November 3.

Returning it by mail

Mail the ballot at least five days before Election Day to help ensure it receives an Election Day-or-earlier postmark. If you are mailing it on Election Day, California advises asking a postal employee inside a post office for a manual postmark. State return guidance and deadlines are listed on the Voting in California page.

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Dropping it off or voting in person

If mail timing is tight, California offers ballot drop-off at authorized locations and in-person voting. Check your county elections office or the state’s polling-place and voting-location resource for the locations and hours available to you. Do not assume a particular site or schedule applies statewide.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

How can I track a ballot?

California’s Where’s My Ballot? service can send status updates by text, email, or voice call. Use it to monitor an issued or returned ballot through the Where’s My Ballot? tracking service. Tracking is useful for checking progress, but it does not request a replacement; if your ballot never arrived or is unusable, contact your county elections office.

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Why it is important to return the ballot correctly

The Secretary of State reports that 98.57% of vote-by-mail ballots were counted in California’s June 2, 2026 primary. That figure applies to that primary, not to the November general election. The state’s USPS FAQ says ballots were rejected in that election for reasons including arriving late, a missing signature, or a signature that did not match the voter’s registration record. Follow the instructions included with your ballot and check the applicable return deadline.

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