Los Angeles County 2026 Election Guide: Ballots, Dates and How to Vote
LOS ANGELES COUNTY — Ballots for the November 3, 2026 general election are on the way. Los Angeles County began mailing vote-by-mail ballots October 1—not October 5—according to the Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk’s official announcement.
This Los Angeles County 2026 election guide covers the dates, ballot-return options and official tools residents can use to prepare. Your own sample ballot is the place to confirm the candidates and measures you are eligible to vote on.
Los Angeles County 2026 election dates
The county’s 2026 election toolkit lists these key dates:
- October 1: Vote-by-mail ballot mailing began and official ballot drop boxes opened.
- October 19: Regular voter registration deadline.
- October 24: Select Vote Centers open.
- October 27: Deadline to request a replacement vote-by-mail ballot.
- October 31: All Vote Centers open.
- Tuesday, November 3: Election Day.
Election Day voting runs from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., according to the county’s general election calendar. Check the official locator for each Vote Center’s schedule during early voting.
Check registration and your own sample ballot
Confirm your address before choosing races
Start with the county election information hub. It links to registration status, the Interactive Sample Ballot, candidate statements, ballot-return tools and the state voter guide.
Living in Los Angeles County does not place every city or district contest on your ballot. City boundaries, council districts, school districts and other jurisdictions determine which local offices appear. South LA includes neighborhoods within the City of Los Angeles and unincorporated communities; residents should confirm their own districts.
If you miss October 19
Eligible residents who miss the regular registration deadline can use Conditional Voter Registration to register and vote at a Vote Center. The ballot is counted after the county verifies eligibility. Use the county’s instructions or call 1-800-815-2666 for help with your circumstances.
How to return a Los Angeles County ballot
Mail it early, or use an official drop box
Complete the ballot and put it in the official return envelope, then sign and date the envelope. Return postage is paid. The county recommends mailing at least seven days before Election Day; October 27 is seven days before November 3.
Under the county’s vote-by-mail instructions, a mailed ballot must be postmarked by Election Day and received within seven days afterward. That makes November 10 the receipt deadline for a ballot properly postmarked November 3. Mailing early leaves more time to resolve a problem.
You can also return a ballot at an official drop box or Vote Center. Find current locations through the county hub and return it by 8 p.m. on Election Day. Do not rely on an old list of locations.
Track the ballot and watch for follow-up
California’s Where’s My Ballot? service provides tracking notifications. If the county contacts you about an envelope-signature issue, follow its instructions and deadline. Signing your return envelope when you complete the ballot helps avoid that extra step.
How to research candidates and measures
Compare promises with the responsibilities of the office being sought. A useful question is whether a candidate identifies the agency, funding and timetable needed to carry out a proposal. Separate a city promise from a county responsibility before deciding what the candidate can deliver.
For ballot measures, read the full text and the official impartial and fiscal analyses alongside the arguments. For South LA residents, connect your vote to daily concerns: housing stability, neighborhood services, transportation, public safety and access to public resources.
Photo: Benjamin Dunn/Neon
