SAN DIEGO — The deadline to register to vote in San Diego County in time to receive a mail ballot for the Nov. 3 general election is Monday.
Voters who miss the deadline can still register conditionally and cast a provisional ballot in person but will no longer be able to vote by mail, according to the San Diego County Registrar of Voters Office.
In-person voting is available at the registrar’s office, 5600 Overland Ave. in Kearny Mesa, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Conditional registration and voting will also be available at any open vote center beginning Saturday, Oct. 24, through Election Day on Nov. 3, officials said.
Voters can register online or request a paper form by calling 800-696-0136 or emailing [email protected]. Voting materials are available in English, Spanish, Filipino, Vietnamese and Chinese.
To be eligible to vote in San Diego County, residents must be:
- A U.S. citizen.
- A California resident.
- At least 18 years old on or before Election Day.
- Not currently in state or federal prison for a felony conviction.
- Not declared mentally incompetent by a court.
Voters can check their registration status online and should reregister if they have moved, changed their name or are new to San Diego County.
Every active registered voter has already received a ballot by mail, according to the registrar’s office. Voters can return their ballots by mail with no postage required, at an official ballot drop box or at any open vote center beginning Oct. 24.
After marking their selections, voters should seal their ballot in the postage-paid return envelope, sign and date the envelope, and return it by mail or at one of more than 150 official drop boxes countywide. The voter’s signature is required for the ballot to count.
Mailed ballots must be postmarked on or before Nov. 3 and received by the registrar’s office no later than seven days after Election Day to be counted, under state law. Ballots returned at official drop boxes or vote centers must be submitted by 8 p.m. Nov. 3.
Voters can track when their ballot is mailed, received and counted by signing up for the California secretary of state’s ballot tracking service.
The county’s vote centers will open in phases to support early voting and reduce wait times. Select vote centers will open Oct. 24 and operate daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. On Election Day, all vote centers and the registrar’s office will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Official ballot drop boxes will close at 8 p.m.
Voters planning to vote in person are reminded that this election includes a two-card ballot.
“To save time at the vote center, review your voter information pamphlet ahead of time and mark your selections on the sample ballot,” the registrar said. “You may bring it to help you transfer your choices to your official ballot using the Ballot Marking Device.”
More information is available at sdvote.com, 858-565-5800 or toll-free at 800-696-0136.
Find more local election coverage, candidate profiles and ballot measure breakdowns on The Coast News’ Election 2026 page.
