Any registered voter may vote using a vote-by-mail ballot instead of going to the polls on Election Day. California law also allows any registered voter to become a permanent vote-by-mail voter. To request a vote-by-mail ballot for one election or to become a permanent vote-by-mail voter, follow the simple process described below.
Registered voters may apply at any time for a vote-by-mail ballot for an upcoming election. However, if you apply by mail, your application must be received no later than 7 days before an election. If it's not, you will need to apply in person to get a vote-by-mail ballot for that election.
You can also use the application printed on your Sample Ballot that is mailed to you by your county elections official prior to every election. If you don't want to wait for your sample ballot, you can write to your county elections official.
You will need to submit a completed application or letter to your county elections official at least 7 days before the election. The application or letter must contain 1) your name and residence address listed on your registration card; 2) the address to which the vote-by-mail ballot should be sent (if different than your registered address); 3) the name and date of the election in which you would like to vote by mail; 4) the date; and 5) your signature.
| Election Date | Last day to apply for a vote-by-mail ballot by mail |
|---|---|
| July 14, 2009 (General, Congressional District 32) |
July 7, 2009 |
| September 1, 2009 (Primary, Assembly District 51) |
August 25, 2009 |
| September 1, 2009 (Primary, Congressional District 10) |
August 25, 2009 |
| June 8, 2010 (Primary Election) |
June 1, 2010 |
| November 2, 2010 (General Election) |
October 26, 2010 |
The vote-by-mail ballot application is available as a PDF download by clicking on one of the links below.
To complete your application, type your information directly into the online application, then simply print, sign and date the form, and mail it to your county elections office. Please do not send it to the Secretary of State's office, because this will delay receipt of your vote-by-mail ballot.
To receive a non-English vote-by-mail ballot, please print the form, fill it out by hand, then sign and date the application using a pen, and mail it to your county elections office.
The statewide form is available in the languages listed below.
Any registered voter may vote using a vote-by-mail ballot instead of going to the polls on Election Day.
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.
Once your application is processed by your county elections official, your ballot will be sent to you. After you have voted, insert your ballot in the envelope provided, making sure you complete all required information on the envelope. You may return your voted vote-by-mail ballot by 1) mailing it to your county elections official; 2) returning it in person to a polling place or the elections office in your county on Election Day; or 3) authorizing a relative or person living in the same household as you to return the ballot on your behalf. Regardless of how the ballot is returned, it MUST be received by the county elections office by the time polls close at 8:00 p.m. on Election Day. Late-arriving vote-by-mail ballots will not be counted.
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 on your voter registration card to ensure they match. To preserve the secrecy of your ballot, the ballot will then be separated from the envelope, and then it will be tallied.
Vote-By-Mail Ballot Receipt System
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.
May 19, 2009, County Specific Vote-By-Mail Ballot Receipt Systems
Any registered voter may become a permanent vote-by-mail voter. As a permanent vote-by-mail voter, you will automatically receive a vote-by-mail ballot for each election. To become a permanent vote-by-mail voter, you must complete an application, which is available from your county elections official.
Your permanent vote-by-mail status will only end if you do not vote in two consecutive statewide general elections.
In order to vote in a California federal election, you must have been a resident in California immediately prior to your departure from the United States.
You may register to vote and request a vote-by-mail ballot with a single form: The Federal Post Card Application (FPCA). This application form is accepted by all states and territories and is postage-paid in the U.S. mail, including the Military Postal System and State Department Pouch mail.
Hard copies of the FPCA can be obtained from a military installation Voting Assistance Officer or from a U.S. embassy or consulate worldwide. An online version of the FPCA is available with complete instructions and mailing information at the Federal Voting Assistance Program website.
For additional information, please visit our military and overseas voting information section.
A Guide to Vote-By-Mail Voting (2008) was created to answer general questions regarding voting by mail in California. This publication also contains samples of the vote-by-mail application forms for use by people and groups that want to distribute forms in California.
Anyone who is distributing vote-by-mail applications is advised to not use these forms unless they have read and understand this publication. Each application must conform to the required format, or it may be deemed to be invalid. This format must be used by anyone distributing these applications.
The county form (Statewide Election) is intended for people who plan to distribute vote-by-mail ballot applications in a single county only. Please note the places where you need to enter specific data or provide lists of county elections officials for applicants.
Your application must be 5.5" X 8.5" in size unless specifically authorized by the elections official to be a different size.
Please do not return applications to the Secretary of State's office. Applications must be returned to the elections official of the county where the applicant lives.
If you have any questions regarding these forms, please contact the Secretary of State's Voter Services Unit.
*Please note these numbers were provided by the individual county elections offices. Because not all counties provided information, no complete statewide data is available.
