When will my CA ballot arrive? See key dates and deadlines for special election
Get ready, California voters. Election Day is nearing — and it’s a special one.
In the 2025 Statewide Special Election, California voters will decide whether to approve or reject a statewide ballot proposition, according to the Secretary of State’s Office.
Proposition 50 seeks to redraw boundaries for many of California’s congressional districts.
“You have a number of ways to participate as California continues to protect and expand your right to vote,” the California Secretary of State’s Office said on its website. “We uphold universal vote-by-mail ballots, multiple in-person voting approaches, same-day voter registration, and provisional voting, all designed to make voting accessible and secure.”
To ensure your vote is counted, here are the key dates and deadlines for registering, receiving your ballot and submitting your vote.
When is the 2025 special election in California?
The 2025 special election will be on Tuesday, Nov. 4.
California voters can fill out their ballots as soon as they’ve received them via U.S. Postal Service delivery, and then mail them in.
What is California voting for in the 2025 special election?
California voters will decide on Proposition 50 in the Nov. 4 special election.
Also known as the Election Rigging Response Act, this measure could reshape several of the state’s congressional districts.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom is pushing the proposal as a way to counter President Donald Trump’s influence after he urged Texas Republicans to redraw their district maps to gain more seats in the U.S. House of Representatives.
If approved, Prop. 50 would replace California’s current, nonpartisan congressional map with one drawn by the Legislature — a change expected to give Democrats five more seats and reduce Republican-held seats from nine to four.
What happens if I vote ‘yes’ on Prop. 50? Vote ‘no’?
A “yes” vote would approve the new map until 2031, while a “no” vote would keep the existing one created by the independent Citizens Redistricting Commission.
When do ballots get sent out in California?
On Monday, Oct. 6, county elections officials in California began mailing ballots to each active registered voter for the 2025 special election, according to the California Secretary of State’s voter guide.
When can I drop off my vote-by-mail ballot?
Ballot drop-off locations open on Tuesday, Oct. 7.
How do I vote by mail in California?
After filling out your California ballot, insert it in the provided envelope and mail it to your county elections office.
Mail ballots must be postmarked on or before Election Day — Tuesday, Nov. 4 — and received by the elections office no later than seven days after Election Day, according to the California Secretary of State’s office.
If you can’t get to the post office by the deadline, you can bring your ballot to a polling place by 8 p.m. on Election Day.
You can also return your voted ballot directly at your county elections office or drop it off at an official drop-off location or drop box.
How do I track my ballot?
According to state elections officials, you can stay updated by signing up online for Where’s My Ballot?
Powered by BallotTrax, Where’s My Ballot? let’s voters know when their mail-in ballots have been sent out, received by the county and accepted online.
What’s the deadline to register to vote?
The last day to register to vote in the special election will be Monday, Oct. 20.
Voters can track their registration status online through MyVoterStatus.
From Tuesday, Oct. 21, to Tuesday, Nov. 4, eligible California residents can sign up for same-day voter registration.
Voters can “conditionally” register and use provisional ballots to cast their votes.
Who is eligible to vote in California?
To be eligible to vote in California, you must be:
- A United States citizen
- A California resident
- At least 18 years old on Election Day
- Currently not serving time in a state or federal prison for a felony conviction
- Currently not found mentally incompetent by a court ruling
How early can I vote in person?
Early voting sites opened on Monday, Oct. 6.
Eligible U.S. citizens can find their nearest location for early voting on the California Secretary of State’s website.
When are polls open for special election in California?
On Election Day — Tuesday, Nov. 4 — polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Beginning at 8 p.m., county elections officials will tally election results, according to the California Secretary of State.
This story was originally published October 8, 2025 at 5:00 AM with the headline "When will my CA ballot arrive? See key dates and deadlines for special election."
