Early voting gives voters more opportunities to cast their votes at the polls. It assures your vote is counted without you having to stand in long lines, and in case of last-minute personal emergencies and schedule conflicts. It also gives you more time to address any issues that may arise with your ballot.
You can vote early by:
- Visiting your Santa Barbara county elections office
- Going to an early voting location offered by Santa Barbara County (location coming soon)
- Voting early using a Drop Box
- Voting early by mail
Vote Early in Person
You can Vote Early in-Person in Santa Barbara County at the Elections Offices in Santa Barbara and Santa Maria. Early voting locations for the November 3 Election will be coming October 5, 2026. Election Office addresses and hours will be shown here. At this time there's an office in Santa Barbara, and another in Santa Maria. The Santa Maria office is only open from October 5, Monday-Friday, from 8am-12pm and 1pm-5pm to November 4. The office will also be open Saturday Ocober 31st from 8am-2pm. Beginning November 4, the office is closed.
Go to an early voting location offered by Santa Barbara County
Early voting locations for the November 3 election will be coming October 5, 2026.
Vote Using a Drop Box
We encourage voters to drop your completed and signed ballot in one of the local ballot drop boxes before Election Day. (They are monitored for security.)
Voting by Mail
If it is not possible to use the drop box, please mail your ballot throught the US Postal Service as early as you can. It is recommended that you take it inside the Post Office to mail it. The Post Office standard mail delivery can take up to 7 days to be delivered. We suggest you mail your ballot no later than 7 days prior to Election Day, so it can arrive by Election Day. Please be sure to sign and date your return envelope. Ballots postmarked on or before Election Day and received within 7 days after Election Day will be accepted.
Drop your ballot at a polling site on Election Day
You may personally deliver your ballot to any polling location or ballot drop-off location in California by 8:00 p.m. on Election Day (November 3, 2026). Make sure you signed your ballot. Go inside the building & ask a poll worker where to drop your completed vote-by-mail ballot.
If it is not possible to use either ballot box option, please mail your ballot throught the US Postal Service as early as you can. It is recommended that you take it inside the Post Office to mail it.
First Time Voter?
Santa Barbara County first-time voters, learn what you need, and what to expect here.
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