California Primary Elections 2022: Key Dates To Know

CALIFORNIA — Believe it or not, 2022 is almost half over, and the primary elections for local, state, and national races in California are less than three weeks away. With ballots in the mail and the deadline to vote fast approaching, here are some dates to mark on your calendar.

KEY DATES

May 9: Ballots and return envelopes were mailed to every active registered California voter. After you make your selection, place the ballot in the return envelope, seal it, sign it, and put it in a mailbox or drop box. Official drop box locations are available on county websites. No stamps are needed. Ballots must be postmarked by June 7, the date of the primaries. If you are unsure whether your ballot will arrive by the June 14 deadline to be counted, hand-deliver it to any polling place between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m. on Election Day.

May 23: The final day to register to vote is May 23. Anyone who is 18 or older by the date of the election and has lived in California for at least six months within a 12-month period is eligible to vote. To register or check your registration status, visit registertovote.ca.gov. If you miss this deadline, you may still be able to register and vote. See here to find the nearest polling location to complete Same-Day Voter Registration.

May 24- June 7: Same Day Registration is available all the way up to election day. This is a safety-net program available for Californians who miss the deadline to register or update their personal information as necessary. To find the nearest location where you can register, visit here and enter your zip code at the bottom of the page.

May 27 - June 7: Early voting starts May 27. At least one location in every county will offer the option to vote early in person at least 10 days ahead of the election. See here to find your nearest early voting location.

June 7: Primary election day is June 7. It's the final day to send a ballot in the mail or vote in person. Polls across the state are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. See here to find your polling location. The information isn’t available yet, but keep checking back. If it’s still not showing up, call the Secretary of State’s office at 213-897-3062.

July 7: The Last day for county election officials to certify election results is one month after election day.

July 8: County election officials send a complete copy of the primary election results to the Secretary of State on July 8.

July 15: The Secretary of State delivers the official certified election results, and they are posted on the state's website.

November 8: General election day is Nov. 8. The two candidates who received the most votes in each primary contest - irrespective of party in California - will face off against one another.