California Secretary of State — Election information
Secretary of State voter guides, certified state candidate-list referrals, accessible voting instructions and results-publication information; separate from county election administration.[1]
Source checked October 26, 2026[1]www.sos.ca.gov
Opens this office’s own website. CountyWiki does not process applications, take payments or provide personal records.
Contact details & office locations ↓Online services & information
Use the links below for official services and provider information. Check each service’s instructions and service area.
Official statewide information. The named election and geographic scope apply; local contests and individual voter eligibility require county confirmation.
Service area: California statewide information and referrals; no precinct-specific ballot or individual eligibility determination [2]
Before you start
- Availability · Statewide guide scope; local county and precinct information is separate
- This guide contains information about statewide candidates and voting resources available to you. I encourage you to review it carefully and seek additional trusted election information by visiting the Secretary of State's website at vote.ca.gov or by contacting your county elections office. A list of California county elections offices can be found at https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voting-resources/county-elections-offices. [9]
Official state publication link only. Candidate records and personal contact fields are not reproduced; check the named election and certified scope in the publisher's document.
Service area: California statewide information and referrals; no precinct-specific ballot or individual eligibility determination [3]
Official statewide information. The named election and geographic scope apply; local contests and individual voter eligibility require county confirmation.
Service area: California statewide information and referrals; no precinct-specific ballot or individual eligibility determination [4]
Official guidance for the November 3, 2026 election. Election Night reporting begins after polls close; use the official site to distinguish ongoing canvass updates from certified results.
Service area: California statewide information and referrals; no precinct-specific ballot or individual eligibility determination [5]
Before you start
- Availability · November 3, 2026 General Election; results availability begins after polls close
- Election results for the November 3, 2026, General Election are available beginning after the polls close at 8:00 p.m. on the California Secretary of State’s Election Results website at electionresults.sos.ca.gov. [10]
- Availability · November 2026 Election Night and subsequent canvass updates
- Results will begin to be posted at 8:00 p.m. and will be updated throughout Election Night. In the days afterwards, the results will be updated each day throughout the canvass as counties count the remaining ballots. [11]
- Availability · Published statewide certification schedule for the November 3, 2026 election
- The official certified results of the election will be posted by December 11, 2026, at sos.ca.gov/elections. [12]
Official state historical-results directory. Select the election and verify its certification status at the publisher.
Service area: California statewide information and referrals; no precinct-specific ballot or individual eligibility determination [6]
Official statewide information. The named election and geographic scope apply; local contests and individual voter eligibility require county confirmation.
Service area: California statewide information and referrals; no precinct-specific ballot or individual eligibility determination [7]
Before you start
- Accessibility · Requesting remote accessible vote-by-mail information through the official authority
- A voter can request a RAVBM when they review their information on My Voter Status or by contacting their County Elections Office by phone, mail or email or by going to their County Elections Office website for more information. [13]
- Information & documents · RAVBM requires paper return; electronic marking does not submit the ballot
- Return the printed and signed selections either by mail or by dropping it off at a voting location. The selections cannot be returned electronically. [14]
- Information & documents · Printed selections, envelope signature and return-channel requirements
- Prints and returns their marked selections by mail using the postage paid envelope included with their vote by mail ballot or using their own envelope which would require postage. The return envelope used in any instance, must have the voter’s signature on the outside of the envelope. The voter can also return their selections in person to a voting location, drop box, or their County Elections Office. A voter cannot submit their selections online. It must be mailed or returned in person. [15]
Official alternative-format directory. The link identifies the publisher's versions; individual audio and PDF contents are not republished or claimed as fully reviewed.
Service area: California statewide information and referrals; no precinct-specific ballot or individual eligibility determination [8]
Fees
Fees are quoted only when a source document supports the amount and conditions.
Check the official website for its current fee schedule. No fee should be assumed to be free.
Forms & documents
Official forms and document pages for this office’s services.
Sources & last checked5 source pages · 15 citations
Sources were checked by an AI-assisted research process. A checked website does not mean every service or fee on it has been reviewed.
- [1] California Secretary of State — state-general (opens in a new tab)
California Secretary of State · Official election page, exact reviewed guidance paragraph
Source reviewed October 26, 2026View supporting excerpt
California Secretary of State
- [2] California Secretary of State — state-voter-guide (opens in a new tab)
California Secretary of State · Official election page, exact reviewed guidance paragraph
Source reviewed October 26, 2026View supporting excerpt
Official Voter Information Guide
- [3] California Secretary of State — state-general (opens in a new tab)
California Secretary of State · Official election page, exact published resource link; target contents not republished
Source reviewed October 26, 2026View supporting excerpt
Certified List of Candidates (PDF)
- [4] California Secretary of State — state-voter-guide (opens in a new tab)
California Secretary of State · Official election page, exact published resource link; target contents not republished
Source reviewed October 26, 2026View supporting excerpt
Candidates
- [5] California Secretary of State — state-guide-results (opens in a new tab)
California Secretary of State · Official election page, exact reviewed guidance paragraph
Source reviewed October 26, 2026View supporting excerpt
Election Results
- [6] California Secretary of State — state-guides (opens in a new tab)
California Secretary of State · Official election page, exact published resource link; target contents not republished
Source reviewed October 26, 2026View supporting excerpt
Statewide Election Results
- [7] California Secretary of State — state-accessible (opens in a new tab)
California Secretary of State · Official election page, exact reviewed guidance paragraph
Source reviewed October 26, 2026View supporting excerpt
Remote Accessible Vote-By-Mail (RAVBM)
- [8] California Secretary of State — state-voter-guide (opens in a new tab)
California Secretary of State · Official election page, exact published resource link; target contents not republished
Source reviewed October 26, 2026View supporting excerpt
Audio/PDF/Large Print
- [9] California Secretary of State — state-voter-guide (opens in a new tab)
California Secretary of State · Official election page, exact reviewed guidance paragraph
Source reviewed October 26, 2026View supporting excerpt
This guide contains information about statewide candidates and voting resources available to you. I encourage you to review it carefully and seek additional trusted election information by visiting the Secretary of State's website at vote.ca.gov or by contacting your county elections office. A list of California county elections offices can be found at https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voting-resources/county-elections-offices.
- [10] California Secretary of State — state-guide-results (opens in a new tab)
California Secretary of State · Official election page, exact reviewed guidance paragraph
Source reviewed October 26, 2026View supporting excerpt
Election results for the November 3, 2026, General Election are available beginning after the polls close at 8:00 p.m. on the California Secretary of State’s Election Results website at electionresults.sos.ca.gov.
- [11] California Secretary of State — state-guide-results (opens in a new tab)
California Secretary of State · Official election page, exact reviewed guidance paragraph
Source reviewed October 26, 2026View supporting excerpt
Results will begin to be posted at 8:00 p.m. and will be updated throughout Election Night. In the days afterwards, the results will be updated each day throughout the canvass as counties count the remaining ballots.
- [12] California Secretary of State — state-guide-results (opens in a new tab)
California Secretary of State · Official election page, exact reviewed guidance paragraph
Source reviewed October 26, 2026View supporting excerpt
The official certified results of the election will be posted by December 11, 2026, at sos.ca.gov/elections.
- [13] California Secretary of State — state-accessible (opens in a new tab)
California Secretary of State · Official election page, exact reviewed guidance paragraph
Source reviewed October 26, 2026View supporting excerpt
A voter can request a RAVBM when they review their information on My Voter Status or by contacting their County Elections Office by phone, mail or email or by going to their County Elections Office website for more information.
- [14] California Secretary of State — state-accessible (opens in a new tab)
California Secretary of State · Official election page, exact reviewed guidance paragraph
Source reviewed October 26, 2026View supporting excerpt
Return the printed and signed selections either by mail or by dropping it off at a voting location. The selections cannot be returned electronically.
- [15] California Secretary of State — state-accessible (opens in a new tab)
California Secretary of State · Official election page, exact reviewed guidance paragraph
Source reviewed October 26, 2026View supporting excerpt
Prints and returns their marked selections by mail using the postage paid envelope included with their vote by mail ballot or using their own envelope which would require postage. The return envelope used in any instance, must have the voter’s signature on the outside of the envelope. The voter can also return their selections in person to a voting location, drop box, or their County Elections Office. A voter cannot submit their selections online. It must be mailed or returned in person.