As California prepares for the critical midterm elections in 2026, voters are gearing up to make their voices heard. Polling centers across the state opened their doors early on the morning of November 3, which falls on a Tuesday this year. Citizens flocked to these locations to cast their votes, eager to take part in determining the future of their state. By November 1, over six million Californians had already participated in early voting, underscoring the high stakes of this election.
One dedicated Asian American voter, Karen Si, has made a commitment to voting for the past two decades. She expressed, “In every election, I make sure to vote. I don’t get caught up in the polls or the news; I just go to cast my ballot. Every vote is important.”
On election day, polling stations were open from 7 AM to 8 PM. During visits to several voting locations in Southern California, a vibrant atmosphere was observed. Many voters had deliberately schemed their day to vote before heading to work. This year’s elections for governor and the Los Angeles mayoral race are particularly heated, with critical propositions concerning voter identification and wealth taxes drawing significant attention.
Another voter, Sierra, shared her concerns about the current polarized political environment. “I don’t like the sharp partisan fights we see today; we need to use common sense when we vote. What matters to us are our daily lives, issues like the economy, cost of living, and safety. The cost of living in California is extremely high, and these things need change.”
Karen Si echoed this sentiment, stressing the importance of having the opportunity to vote. She reflected on her years of participation, hoping the results would improve everyone’s lives: “California actually has resources and wealth; the key is how to use this money to truly help everyone.”
Si also addressed the issue of state tax policy, expressing her concerns. “I don’t focus on whether my taxes have increased, but I want to know: where is the tax money going? Why do so many issues remain unresolved? We keep paying taxes, but where does that money go?”
As an ordinary voter, Sarah prioritizes issues such as the economy, prices, health insurance, and the education of the next generation. She stated, “I actively participate in elections, especially local ones. Every vote counts, and my ballot can genuinely make a difference in realizing the causes I support.” Despite acknowledging the pressure from election news and polls, she remains steadfast in her intention to vote.
This midterm election encompasses numerous public offices, including those for governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, state auditor, treasurer, attorney general, insurance commissioner, and public education director. Additionally, voters will pick representatives for Congress, state senators, state assembly members, judges, and local officials.
Don Mathy, a long-time voter, along with his wife, reiterated the importance of participating in elections. He expressed, “Voting is truly important. We care about food prices, gas prices, and various basic living needs. The government often overlooks ordinary people, which is my biggest concern.” Therefore, they believe that every voter should actively engage in elections to fight for their rights.
According to the schedule set by the California Secretary of State, all polling places will close at 8 PM on November 3. Workers from county election offices will begin counting votes thereafter and will report the voting data to the Secretary of State every two hours until the count is complete.
For mail-in ballots, they should be sent out by the day of the election or earlier and must be received by the county election office by November 10 to qualify for counting. If voters are uncertain whether their mail-in votes will arrive on time, they can drop their ballots at any polling station in the state before 8 PM on election night.
The deadline for county election offices to confirm the election results is December 3; the Secretary of State will publish the final official election results online on December 11.