You can track your ballot in California. Here’s how to make sure your vote is accepted
Ballots for the 2024 presidential election have been mailed to California’s 22 million registered voters.
Californians can vote on candidates running for president, the U.S. Senate and the House of Representatives, as well as a number of statewide ballot propositions.
In California, you can mail in your ballot, drop off your ballot or take it to a polling place no later than 8 p.m. on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 5.
You can sign up online to track your ballot and check to see if it has been accepted.
Here’s how it works:
How can I track my ballot in California?
The California Secretary of State’s Office has created a way to let eligible registered voters know when their ballots have been mailed, received and counted.
Powered by BallotTrax, Where’s My Ballot? lets voters know “where their ballot is, and its status, every step of the way,” the California Secretary of State’s Office said.
You can choose whether to receive text messages, emails or calls about your ballot and its progress through the electoral system.
You’ll get alerts if there are any issues with your ballot.
Track the status of your mail-in ballot by signing up at WheresMyBallot.sos.ca.gov.
How do I know if my vote has been counted?
When you sign up for Where’s My Ballot? you will be sent updates on your ballot once it has been mailed.
These are the kind of ballot updates you could get if you use the ballot-tracking tool:
- When your ballot has been delivered to your address
If your ballot was returned as undeliverable to the county elections official by the U.S. Postal Service
If your completed ballot has been received by the county
- Whether your ballot has been accepted by the county
If your ballot has not been accepted, Where’s My Ballot? will give you instructions on how to fix or resubmit it.
Who is eligible for ballot tracking?
All registered voters in California are eligible to track the status of their mail-in ballots.
The Where’s My Ballot? tool is available for use in all 58 counties in the state.
What is the deadline to vote in 2024 election?
The last day to vote will be Tuesday, Nov. 5.
Mailed ballots must be postmarked on or before Election Day and received by a county elections office no later than seven days after Election Day — Tuesday, Nov. 12, according to the California Secretary of State.
After completing your ballot, you should use the postage-paid envelope provided and sign the ballot before mailing it in.
You can return your completed ballot by mailing it to a local county elections official, returning it in-person to a polling place or returning it at a drop-off location or a ballot drop box.
You can also authorize someone to return your ballot on your behalf.
What are poll open hours for Election Day?
On Election Day, Nov. 5, polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Beginning at 8 p.m., county elections officials will tally election results, according to the California Secretary of State.
Have a question about the 2024 election season?
ASK THE CALIFORNIA SERVICE JOURNALISM TEAM
You can submit questions directly to our reporters by emailing servicejournalists@sacbee.com or by filling out the form below. We have reporters covering election news in Sacramento, Modesto, Fresno, Merced and San Luis Obispo.
This story was originally published October 21, 2024 at 5:00 AM with the headline "You can track your ballot in California. Here’s how to make sure your vote is accepted."
