March 5, 2024

Primary Election

The following deadlines apply to the state of California, and might be different from other states within the United States

Voter Registration Deadline

Postmarked by February 20, 2024, or you can register and vote at your county elections office after the 15-day voter registration deadline.

Conditional Voter Registration is a safety net for Californians who miss the deadline to register to vote or update their voter registration information. Voters can use the conditional voter registration process from the day after the deadline all the way through Election Day. Eligible citizens can go to their county election office, polling place, or vote center to register and vote conditionally. These ballots will be processed once the county elections office has completed the voter registration verification process.

Vote-By-Mail Ballot

 

All registered voters in California will receive a mail-in ballot.

Your county elections office will start mailing ballots on February 5, 2024.

Return your vote-by-mail ballot by mail with prepaid postage as long as it's postmarked on or before Election Day and received by March 12, 2024, or in-person to a secure ballot drop box, to a voting location or your county elections office by 8:00 p.m. on March 5, 2024.

Return by Mail

 

Ballot return envelopes DO NOT require postage! All ballots must be postmarked by Election Day in order to be counted and must be received no later than 17 days after the election.

Drop Off the Ballot to one of the Elections Office locations

DRIVE-UP DROP BOXES

24-hour drive-up drop boxes are available in Santa Barbara, Santa Maria, and Lompoc beginning 29 days before all federal and state elections through 8:00 pm on Election Day!

Personally Delivered Ballots

Must be delivered by close of polls on March 5, 2024; Mailed ballots: Must be postmarked on or before March 5, 2024, and received by your county elections office no later than March 12, 2024*.

Please visit the Upcoming Elections page for information on drive-up box locations for local or special elections. 

(Voters who have moved from one address to another within the same county and not re-registered may vote with a provisional ballot at the polling place for their current (new) address at the office of the county elections official or at any polling place within the county in which you are registered to vote.)