Chinese Voter Guide to California's 2026 Midterm Election: Mail Ballots, Chinese-Language Ballots and Vote Centers
The 2026 midterm election falls on Tuesday, November 3. Vote-by-mail ballots have been sent to every registered California voter starting October 5, and vote centers in Voter's Choice Act counties opened on October 24 — which means voting is already under way. This guide gathers what Chinese-speaking voters in California most need to know: how to cast a ballot, where Chinese-language ballots are available, and where to find a vote center or drop box. All information comes from the California Secretary of State and county registrars of voters; GSM does not endorse any candidate or measure.
1. Has your ballot arrived?
Counties began mailing ballots to every registered voter no later than October 5. If yours has not arrived, first check your registration status and address on the Secretary of State's website; if your registration is in order, contact your county registrar of voters for a replacement. When the ballot arrives, check the name and address on the envelope.
2. Missed the registration deadline?
The regular deadline was October 19 and has passed — but there is still a way. From October 20 through Election Day, November 3, you can register conditionally at a county elections office or any in-person voting location under Same Day Registration and cast a provisional ballot that will be counted.
3. Three ways to vote
(1) By mail: mark the ballot, seal it in the official return envelope, sign the envelope where indicated, and mail it. To count, it must be postmarked on or before November 3 and received by November 10. The Secretary of State advises mailing at least seven days early; if you mail close to Election Day, ask at a post office counter for a manual postmark so the date is legible.
(2) Drop box: official ballot drop boxes are open. Return the signed envelope to any official drop box by 8 p.m. on November 3, and use only boxes bearing your county registrar's markings.
(3) In person: vote centers in Voter's Choice Act counties opened October 24, and you may vote at any vote center, not just one near home. On Election Day all polling places are open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Hours in the five Southern California counties differ slightly before Election Day: Los Angeles County, October 24 to November 2, 10 a.m.–7 p.m.; Orange County, some vote centers October 24–30 (10 a.m.–6 p.m.) and all centers from October 31; San Diego County, some centers from October 24 (8 a.m.–5 p.m.) and all centers from October 31; Riverside County has 152 vote centers and 107 official drop-off locations countywide, according to the county.
4. Chinese-language ballots and language assistance
Under Section 203 of the federal Voting Rights Act, nine California counties must provide full Chinese-language election materials: Alameda, Contra Costa, Los Angeles, Orange, Sacramento, San Diego, San Francisco, San Mateo and Santa Clara (per the U.S. Census Bureau's 2021 determinations). Voters in those counties can receive a Chinese ballot and a Chinese voter guide. Section 14201 of the California Elections Code separately requires translated Chinese reference ballots in ten counties. Riverside and San Bernardino counties are not on the Section 203 Chinese list; Chinese-speaking voters there should call their county registrar in advance to ask about language assistance for this election. The official voter guide's Chinese-language hotline is (800) 339-2857, and the Secretary of State provides election information in Chinese and eight other non-English languages.
5. Where to vote or drop off
Statewide lookup: California early voting and drop-off locations (Secretary of State)
Los Angeles County: LA County vote center locator
Orange County: Orange County voting and drop-off locations
Riverside County: Riverside County Registrar of Voters
San Bernardino County: San Bernardino County voting options
San Diego County: San Diego County vote center locations
6. Don't forget to sign — and mistakes can be cured
The signature on the return envelope is how your ballot is verified. A missing or non-matching signature sets the ballot aside; the county will notify you, and the deadline to cure a signature issue is 5 p.m. on November 25. Act quickly if you receive a notice.
7. What is on the ballot
Federal: all of California's U.S. House seats (all 435 House seats nationwide are up; 33 Senate seats are up this cycle, and neither of California's U.S. senators is among them). State offices: Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State, Treasurer, Controller, Insurance Commissioner, Superintendent of Public Instruction, and the Board of Equalization. There are 14 statewide propositions, numbered 1–5 and 37–45, covering housing bonds, voter identification, taxes, and school and health-care funding. Later installments of this feature will walk through each proposition and explain how to read election-night returns.
Source: GSM·USA (Sources: California Secretary of State, Official Voter Information Guide, county registrars of voters)
Related: AAPI Voter Poll: Trump's Approval at 25% Among Asian American Adults
Source: GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 加利福尼亚州门多西诺县的官方选票投递箱（Sarah Stierch 摄，CC BY 4.0）— via Wikimedia Commons / An official ballot drop box in Mendocino County, California (Sarah Stierch, CC BY 4.0) — via Wikimedia Commons
- 2026-10-25Chinese Voter Guide to California's 2026 Midterm Election: Mail Ballots, Chinese-Language Ballots and Vote CentersThis story
- 2026-10-25What Is on the Ballot in the 2026 Midterms: All 435 House Seats, 33 Senate Seats and California's 14 Propositions
- 2026-10-25How to Read Election Night: California Results Start at 8 p.m. on Nov. 3, Mail Ballots Count Through Nov. 10, Final Certification Dec. 11
- 2026-10-25California's 14 Ballot Propositions Explained: The $11.25B Housing Bond, Permanent High-Income Tax, Voter ID and the Clinics' 90 Percent Rule
