Center for U.S. Voters Abroad

California Overseas Voting Guide

If California is the state of your last U.S. residence, this is where your ballot comes from — no matter what country you live in now, and however long you have been away. The deadlines below are for the November 3, 2026 federal general election.

California deadlines at a glance

California deadlines at a glance

Election Day
Nov 3, 2026

  1. Register to vote

    Deadlines as early as

    Oct 19, 2026

    Received by Oct 19, 2026.

    Varies by how you send it — see below

    See the rules ↓

  2. Request your ballot

    No deadline

  3. Return your voted ballot

    Fastest — fax

    Nov 3, 2026

    at 8 PM local time

    By fax, received by

    Latest — post

    Nov 3, 2026

    +7 days to arrive

    Postmarked by

    See the rules ↓

These dates and process details come from the Federal Voting Assistance Program's 2026–27 Voting Assistance Guide, the U.S. Department of Defense's official source for California. Deadlines can change after it is published, so confirm anything you are close to with your local election official.

Registering and requesting your ballot

Request your California ballot

One federal form registers you and requests your absentee ballot. Overseas voters file it again every election year, even if you voted last time.

California asks new registrants for the last four digits of your Social Security number or a state-issued ID or driver's license number.

Request your ballot

Already filed?

Register to voteearliest Oct 19, 2026See the rules

Received by Oct 19, 2026

Postmarked by Oct 19, 2026

Receiving your blank ballot

Once California accepts your form, it sends you a blank ballot — federal law requires states to transmit them to overseas voters at least 45 days before Election Day, so yours should be sent by September 19, 2026.

Ballot not arrived by September 19, 2026?

If it has not reached you, tell us — we track delivery issues and raise them with election officials.

Report a late ballotUse the backup ballot instead

Returning your California ballot

California accepts a voted ballot returned electronically as well as by post. Returning it electronically skips international mail, which can take several weeks each way. Both are accepted — the options are below.

Return your ballot according to the instructions that came with it — the envelopes, the signature and any witness or ID requirement are set by your state. If anything is missing or you are not sure what they want, your local election official is the person to ask.

3 ways to return it — choose one

Fax

Fastest

Fax your voted ballot and any forms in your packet to your election office. The number comes with your ballot; online fax services work from anywhere.

By fax, received by Nov 3, 2026 at 8 PM local time

Post

Post your voted ballot in the return envelope from your packet. International postage from your country applies, and delivery takes two to three weeks from most places.

Postmarked by Nov 3, 2026

It must still arrive within 7 days of Election Day.

International post is slow — allow about three weeks from most countries, and longer from some. Count back from the deadline above rather than from today: post costs nothing and needs the most time, a courier reaches California in a few days for a fee.

By courier — DHL, FedEx or UPS

Faster, costs more

A courier takes a few days instead of a few weeks and gives you tracking. It costs more than ordinary post, and how much depends on the country you are sending from.

Same deadlines as returning by post:

Postmarked by Nov 3, 2026

It must still arrive within 7 days of Election Day.

Many election offices publish a PO box, and couriers cannot deliver to one. Look up your election office and ask for a street address that accepts courier deliveries — before the day you plan to send.

Additional resources

The official places to check your ballot, reach the office that handles it, and read the rules in full.

California overseas voting questions

What is the California ballot deadline for overseas voters?

As early as November 3, 2026 at 8 PM. Varies by how you send it.

What if my California ballot has not arrived?

If your ballot has not arrived and your deadline is close, the Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot is the federal backup ballot. You can fill it in for federal offices and send it now; if your real ballot turns up later, complete and return that too — only one of them is counted. In California, the backup ballot can also register you to vote, though registration deadlines may fall earlier than ballot deadlines.

Can I email or fax my ballot back in California?

Yes. California accepts a voted ballot by fax or post.

When is the California registration deadline for overseas voters?

As early as October 19, 2026.

How do I check that my California ballot was counted?

California offers an online ballot-status lookup where you can check that your ballot was sent and that your voted ballot came back. The link is under Additional resources on this page.

Who is my local election official in California?

Your local election official is the county or municipal office that handles registration and ballots for your last U.S. address in California. You can look up their contact details on our election-office finder.

More questions?

Our team answers questions from overseas voters every day. Ask us anything this page did not cover.

Reach out for help

Ready to request your California ballot?

One form registers you and requests your ballot.

Request your ballot