Voting is easy!
- Register to vote (new voters) or check your registration status (registered voters).
- See what’s on your ballot.
- Learn about the candidates and measures.
- Decide how you want to vote: drop off, mail or vote in-person.
- Sign up for Where's My Ballot to track the status of your ballot.
Key dates:
- May 4: Ballots will be mailed by the county.
- May 5: Ballot Drop Box locations open.
- May 18: Last day to register to vote in order to receive a ballot in the mail. (You can register in person after this date.)
- May 26: Last recommended day to mail your ballot using the U.S. Postal Service.
Ballots must be postmarked by June 2! If mailing after May 27, go to a Post Office and request a manual postmark at the counter. - May 29: Early-in-person voting begins.
- June 2: Election Day!
Ways to Vote
Vote-by-Mail Ballots
All active California registered voters will receive a vote-by-mail ballot for the Primary Election. After you complete, seal and sign your ballot, you can drop it off at an official dropbox or an early voting site, or you can return it by US Mail.
- You must drop your completed ballot off no later than 8 PM on Election Day, June 2.
- See Contra Costa County 2026 Primary Election for the Official Ballot Drop Boxes lists.
- You must drop your completed ballot off no later than 8 PM on Election Day, June 2.
- See Contra Costa County 2026 Primary Election for the Regional Early Voting Sites lists.
- Mailed ballots must be postmarked on or before June 2. Mail your ballot by May 26, which is five business days before the June 2 election. (**See MAIL EARLY ALERT below.)
- If you are mailing your ballot after May 27, go to a Post Office and request a manual postmark at the counter.
**ALERT: MAIL YOUR BALLOT BACK EARLY!
To ensure your ballot is postmarked by Election Day, make sure you mail it by 5/26.
If you are mailing your ballot after 5/27, go to a Post Office and request a manual postmark at the counter.
Postmarks are applied by machines at processing facilities, not at local post offices. Recent transportation changes may result in mail not arriving at the processing facility on the same day that it is mailed. This means that the date on the postmark might not match the date you mailed your ballot, so you must mail your ballot early!
Vote in-person on election day:
- On Election Day, you can vote in person at any polling place within the county between 7:00 am and 8:00 pm. However, your pre-printed ballot type is only available at your designated polling place. You can find your assigned polling place printed on the back of your Voter Information Guide or by using the My Voting Information Look-up tool.
- On Election Day, you may vote in person at the Elections office from 7:00 am to 8:00 pm. The Elections office is located at 555 Escobar Street in Martinez
Track your ballot:
Check WheresMyBallot to find out where your ballot is in the process and when it has been accepted.
What's on the ballot?
The 2026 California Primary Election includes Federal, State, and local contests. The specific races that will be on your ballot depend on where you live.
Use VOTE411 to find your ballot and voting information
Enter your address here and click Get Started to see the candidates and measures that are on your ballot. You can also check your voter registration status, register to vote, check your election options and deadlines, and find your polling place and hours.
You can also use the VOTE411 widget at the bottom of the page or on the right menu bar to find your ballot and voting informaiton.
CA Top-Two Primary Election
California holds a "Top Two Primary." All candidates for State and Federal offices appear on a single ballot, regardless of their party registration, and all voters will see the same list of candidates, regardless of their own party registration.
The top-two vote-getters move on to the General Election in November regardless of party affiliation or whether any candidate receives a majority of the votes. It is possible for two candidates from the same party to advance to the General Election.
For County and local offices, candidates who win 50%+1 of the votes in the Primary Election win the office and will not appear on the November ballot. If no candidate gets 50%+1 in the primary, the top two vote-getters move on to the General Election.
Candidate Information
- All registered voters will receive an Official Voter Information Guide from the state which includes statements from the candidates for statewide races.
- For information about candidates in local races, see Contra Costa County Voter Information Guide which is mailed to every voter.
- You can find information about candidates and measures on your ballot on VOTE411.
Candidate Forums and Debates
Candidate Forums, debates and interviews are also useful ways to learn about the candidates and their views.
Judicial Candidates Forum 4/30/26 (video), with CC County Bar Assn, Pleasant Hill
Ballot Measures
- Measure A - Urban Limit Line renewal: Renews and modifies the county’s long-standing Urban Limit Line (ULL) through about 2051.
- Measure B - County sales tax (transactions and use tax): Imposes a 0.625% countywide sales tax for 5 years.
Local measures (such as taxes, bonds, policies) may also appear on your ballot depending on your county and city.
- See the Contra Costa County Voter Information Guide which is mailed to every voter. It includes the full ballot text, impartial analysis and official arguments for and against each measure.
- Use VOTE411.
- Watch for coverage in local news.
Voter Resources
CA Secretary of State Election Information
VOTE411
