In preparation for the 2026 California primary election, the mailing of ballots began on Saturday, with ballots being transported from election centers in each county. Residents can expect to receive their mail-in ballots starting from next Monday, and the deadline for in-person voting is set for 8:00 pm on June 2nd.
According to the Secretary of State’s office, the deadline for voter registration for the primary election is May 18th. If you are 18 years old and a U.S. citizen but have not registered to vote, you can do so before this date to participate in the primary. Teenagers who are 16 years old can also register as voters and participate in voting upon turning 18.
California’s primary election this year mandates that mail-in ballots be sent out starting on May 4th, with the majority of people expected to receive them on the same day, and convenient ballot drop-off locations in each county will be open on the 5th.
In all counties implementing the Voter’s Choice Act, the first batch of voting centers will open on the 23rd for early in-person voting by the electorate.
On May 30th (Saturday), in-person voting centers across California will open for residents to cast their votes in person or drop off their mail-in ballots. The deadline for in-person voting is 8:00 pm on June 2nd.
As per California regulations, for mail-in voting, the USPS postmark on the envelope must not be later than June 2nd, although mail-in ballots have a 7-day grace period to arrive.
In the 2026 primary election, California will elect 52 members of Congress, 20 state senators, 80 state assembly members, the governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, attorney general, auditor, treasurer, superintendent of public instruction, and insurance commissioner, among other candidates who secure the top two positions, to participate in the midterm elections in November and determine the winners.
Due to redistricting, the Democratic Party may secure 48 out of the 52 seats, with Republican voters holding an advantage in the remaining 4 districts.
The governor and state government officials will be the focus of attention in this election, particularly the gubernatorial race. According to a poll by Gudelunas Strategies on April 30th, Steve Hilton leads among Republican gubernatorial candidates; among the Democratic candidates, former Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra is currently in the lead. Among all candidates, Becerra ranks first with 24% support, while Hilton follows closely with 23% in second place.
In the state senate and assembly races, Democratic candidates still maintain a significant advantage, while Republican candidates are actively campaigning, aiming to succeed in the primary and ultimately secure seats. ◇