To Summer-ize July 2026 – Via CA SOS

Time flies when you’re having fun! As the sun warms the pavement, wildflowers blossom, and peaches ripen, summer is already in full swing. To beat the heat, you might want to grab a snow cone or a refreshing iced tea. But what’s another way to stay cool during the dog days of summer? It’s certainly cool to stay proactive and make sure your voter registration is up to date!

Ahead of the November 3, 2026, General Election, you can check the status of your voter registration at voterstatus.sos.ca.gov. Had a recent move? Change your name? If you need to make any changes to your voter registration, go to registertovote.ca.gov. Don’t wait until fall to make an update!

The June 2, 2026, Primary Election is over and the official statewide results of the election were posted on July 10, 2026, at electionresults.sos.ca.gov. Thousands of Californians have come together to make sure their voices were heard in this election, and the momentum doesn’t stop there. We are grateful to have so many trusted messengers across the state promoting civic engagement, be it through voter registration drives, townhalls, or posting voter education resources and content on their social media. Thank you for your continued efforts in building relationships in your community to foster a strong democracy. Together, we will continue to Promote the Vote for the 2026 General Election and beyond!

Schools may be on summer vacation now, but the start of next year will be here before you know it. The California Secretary of State and California Department of Education have partnered up to connect youth with engaging voter education programs. High schools and middle schools across the state can get firsthand electoral experience by participating in our 2026 California Student Mock Election. Registration is open until September 30th, and you can find out more by checking out our website: sos.ca.gov/elections/studentmockelection. We also encourage student voter registration and pre-registration for high school and college students, where students 16 and 17 years old may pre-register to vote and automatically become registered to vote upon turning 18, and eligible students 18 and older can register to vote! Learn more here: sos.ca.gov/elections/svr.

As the summer breeze blows, first time voters and seasoned election participants alike can all use a podcast to unwind. If you haven’t already, give “This is Promote the Vote California, The Podcast” a listen. Seasons 1 and 2 are available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube to give you some insightful information to bridge the connection between business, community, and democracy.

What to look forward to…

Some key dates to keep in mind as we move towards the November 3, 2026 General Election:

• October 5, 2026 – County elections offices will be begin mailing ballots
• October 6, 2026 – Ballot drop-off locations open
• October 19, 2026 – The last day to register to vote online
• October 24, 2026 – Vote centers open for early in-person voting in all Voter’s Choice Act counties
• November 3, 2026, Election Day – Vote-by-mail ballots must be postmarked no later than November 3. If mailing on Election Day, get a hand-stamped postmark from a postal employee inside a United