If your California mail ballot never arrived, is lost, or is damaged, contact your county elections office promptly or apply for a replacement using the state’s official application. For the November 3, 2026 general election, the Secretary of State recommends requesting a replacement by October 27—but that is a recommended date, not a statutory cutoff. Only the registered voter may request their replacement ballot.
What if my California mail ballot is lost, damaged, or never arrived?
First, confirm that you are registered at the address where you expected the ballot. If it did not arrive or cannot be used, request a replacement through your county elections office or the California Secretary of State’s replacement ballot application. The county accepts requests by phone, email, fax, or other electronic means; find the correct office through the state’s county elections offices directory.
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The state’s 2026 voter information guide says that voters who did not receive their ballot, or whose original ballot was lost or damaged, may apply for a replacement. The request must come from the registered voter themself. California warns that it is a criminal offense for another person to request a replacement ballot on the voter’s behalf.
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Can I still get a replacement ballot if it is late?
For the November 3, 2026 general election, October 27 is California’s recommended date to request a replacement. It is not the final legal day to ask for help. If October 27 has passed, contact your county elections office immediately to ask what replacement and voting options are still available locally. County procedures, office hours, and location options vary.
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How do I return a completed ballot on time?
For the November 3, 2026 election, the applicable deadline depends on how you return the ballot:
| Return method | Deadline |
|---|---|
| By mail | Postmarked on or before November 3, 2026, and received by the county elections office no later than November 10, 2026. |
| Personally delivered | Received by an authorized location by 8:00 p.m. on November 3, 2026. |
California advises mailing at least five days before Election Day to help ensure the ballot receives an Election Day-or-earlier postmark. If you mail it on Election Day, ask a postal employee inside a post office for a manual postmark. You can also use an authorized ballot drop-off location or vote in person; check with your county or the state’s official polling place and voting location resource for local options.
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How can I track my ballot?
Sign up for California’s Where’s My Ballot? service to receive ballot status notifications by text, email, or voice call. Tracking can help you monitor an issued or returned ballot, but it does not request a replacement if the ballot is missing or unusable.
What the ballot-counting figures do—and do not—show
The California Secretary of State reports that 98.57% of vote-by-mail ballots were counted in the June 2, 2026 primary. The state’s USPS FAQ says ballots were rejected for reasons including lateness, a missing signature, or a signature that did not match the voter’s registration record. That figure is specific to the June 2026 primary; it is not a general rate for every election or a result for the November 2026 general election. See the state’s vote-by-mail FAQ.
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