Election Day is fast approaching, and San Diego voters will have the chance to make their voices heard on the candidates and issues that could shape their futures. The 2026 midterm elections are Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026, with voters determining California’s next governor, congressional represent ation and local offices. Whether you plan to cast your ballot by mail or in-person, here is everything to know before exercising your democratic right to vote. In this guide: $(document).ready(function(){ function scrollToTargetAdjusted(which){ var element = document.getElementById(which); var headerOffset = 100; var elementPosition = element.getBoundingClientRect().top; var offsetPosition = elementPosition + window.pageYOffset - headerOffset; window.scrollTo({ top: offsetPosition, behavior: "smooth" }); } $(".jumpNavBtn").click(function() { //console.log($(this).attr("data-id")); scrollToTargetAdjusted($(this).attr("data-id")); }); }); When is Election Day? When are ballots due? Am I registered? Can I still register to vote? Can I vote online? Mail ballots What’s on the ballot? 14 California propositions How do I vote in-person? How do I vote by mail? Where can I drop my ballot? Voting problems Election results announced When is Election Day 2026 in San Diego County? Election Day for the 2026 midterm elections is on Tuesday, Nov. 3, but San Diego County voters can submit ballots early, either by using drop boxes across the county or by visiting an official vote center. Polls are scheduled to be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day. Early in-person voting began Oct. 24 at select vote centers, and mail ballots were sent to registered voters starting the week of Oct. 5. When are ballots due in San Diego County? Ballots are due when the polls close at 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 3. Anyone who is in line at a vote center by 8 p.m. on Election Day will be able to cast their ballot. For those mailing their ballots through the USPS, ensure it is postmarked on Tuesday. If you think you may be cutting it close, you can also drop your ballot at a secure drop box before 8 p.m. Am I registered to vote? If you want to verify your voting status or make changes to your voting preferences, you can check your registration status on the San Diego County Registrar of Voters website. If you moved or changed your legal name since the last election, you will need to re-register to vote by filling out a new voter registration form with your updated information. Even if you do not think you have made recent changes, it is good practice to double check that the Registrar of Voters has your current mailing address on file. To register to vote, you must be: A U.S. citizen A California resident At least 18 years old on or before the next election Not in state or federal prison for a felony conviction Not declared mentally incompetent by court action The last day to register online or by mail to vote in the Nov. 3 election was Oct. 19. If you missed the deadline, don’t worry. Keep reading to see how you can still vote. Can I still register to vote if I missed the deadline? The deadline to register to vote for the Nov. 3 election has passed, but eligible Californians who may have missed the deadline can still vote. California allows conditional voter registration through Election Day. Voters can register and cast a provisional ballot at either a county vote center or the Registrar of Voters office. To register, you still must meet the criteria to be a registered voter. You must be a U.S. citizen, a California resident, 18 years of age or older on Election Day and meet the state’s other eligibility requirements listed above. If you are eligible to become a registered voter, go to the Registrar’s office at 5600 Overland Ave., San Diego, or any vote center to register to vote using a provisional ballot. While the ballot is provisional, your vote will be counted once your registration status has been verified. This process will also register you to vote in future elections. Can I vote online in San Diego County? No, online voting is not allowed in California. Decision 2026 San Diego County Oct 24 Dozens of vote centers now open across San Diego County Elections Oct 23 DOJ presses California counties to verify voter eligibility ahead of midterms Elections Oct 23 How to track your ballot for the 2026 election in San Diego County When should I receive my mail ballot? Ballots started going out to San Diego voters during the week of Oct. 5. Every active registered voter was automatically mailed a ballot. What if I haven’t received my mail ballot? You can check the status of your ballot on the Registrar of Voters website. If you have not received your ballot in the mail or it was lost or destroyed, you can request a replacement. What’s on the ballot in San Diego County? The 2026 midterm election includes federal, state and local contests, along with ballot measures that could impact taxes, government oversight, housing and more. California voters will elect a new governor to replace Gavin Newsom, who has reached the maximum term limit. Democrat Xavier Becerra, a former U.S. secretary of health and human services, will face Republican Steve Hilton, a former Fox News political commentator. Other statewide races include attorney general, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, controller, insurance commissioner and treasurer. Voters will also decide races for the state Legislature and the House of Representatives. Local races include two seats on the San Diego Board of Supervisors and congressional contests in the 48th and 49th districts. Voters who reside in the city of San Diego will elect representatives in districts 2, 4, 6 and 8. 14 California propositions spanning issues like housing, taxes, environmental regulations and election rules will be on the ballot too. NBC 7 politics reporter Joey Safchik broke down everything you need to know about the California proposition measures. San Diego County voters will consider two countywide measures related to term limits for county supervisors and sales tax. You can find a sample of what your ballot will look like on the Registrar of Voters website. What are the California propositions? Here’s a list of the 14 California propositions on the November ballot. Use the expandable graphic below for a breakdown on what to know about each measure. 2026 California Ballot Propositions Click on a proposition to see more information about what will happen if it does or doesn’t pass. Source: NBC Staff Reports • Interactive: Annetta Stogniew let lang = "english"; How do I vote in-person? Do I need ID to vote? You can vote in-person at any local vote center, with or without your mail-in ballot. In most cases, California does not require voters to show ID at the polls. You may need to show ID if you meet all of the following requirements: you are voting for the first time in a federal election, you registered by mail or online and you did not provide your California ID or social security number when registering to vote. Upon arrival at a vote center, you will check-in and sign an ePollbook, otherwise known as the electronic roster of voters. Once you are checked in, the barcode on your mail ballot return envelope is automatically suspended to prevent multiple votes being counted per person. You will make your decisions via a touchscreen ballot marking device at the vote center. Your official ballot with your selections will be printed and inserted in the ballot box for tabulation. You can read more about voting in-person in San Diego here. How to vote by mail Every active registered voter in San Diego County is automatically mailed a ballot, per California’s Voter’s Choice Act. Once you have filled out your ballot, place it in the official return envelope, seal the envelope, sign and date it. Your completed ballot can be returned by mail and does not require a stamp. Alternatively, you can deposit it at an official ballot drop box or deliver it to a vote center. Mailed ballots must be postmarked by Nov. 3 and received by the Registrar of Voters no later than Nov. 10 to be counted in the election. Where can I drop my ballot? There are more than 100 official ballot drop boxes throughout San Diego County, which means there is one ballot drop box for every 15,000 voters registered for the 2026 election. They are typically located at libraries, parks and other public spaces. Drop boxes opened Oct. 4 and will remain open through 8 p.m. on Election Day, Nov. 3. Individual locations may have different access hours, but official drop boxes are typically accessible 24/7. Official drop boxes are red, white and blue and are labeled “Official Ballot Drop Box.” Voters can use any official drop box in the county, regardless of registration address. To learn more and locate the nearest official drop box near you, see NBC 7’s guide to San Diego County ballot drop boxes. How to report voting problems To report a complaint, submit a form on the California Secretary of State website. To report other types of election complaints, visit this page on the Secretary of State website. Voters who experience voter intimidation, face challenges about their voting eligibility or encounter other troubles at vote centers are encouraged to report these incidents. Voter fraud, voter suppression and voting device tampering are felonies. Election results time While California polls close at 8 p.m. on Nov. 3, California officials have until Dec. 3 to certify results. Preliminary results will be released as soon as polls close, and some races could be determined immediately while other races could take days or weeks to call. The NBC News Decision Desk is tracking key races, and NBC San Diego will have updates on results as soon as they come in. ...read more read less