How does returning your ballot in 72 hours help our Democratic candidates win?

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When your ballot is received by the County Recorder, the official voter database is updated to show that you have voted. Our candidates and volunteers use this database to select which voters to contact through phone calls, text messages, direct mail and door-to-door canvasses. If all of us return our ballots quickly, our candidates will know we have voted and can then select only those voters who have not yet cast their ballots, thereby narrowing their campaigns to concentrate on persuading those voters who are truly undecided. This saves our candidates time and money and helps them maximize the effectiveness of their voter outreach activity. (Pro Tip: Also, the sooner you return your ballot, the sooner people will stop calling you and knocking on your door!)

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So when should you return your ballot?

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Make a plan to vote early. If you are on the Active Early Voting List (AEVL), the 2026 General Election Ballots will be mailed to voters on Wed, October 7, so most people will receive theirs by Saturday, October 10. Plan to fill out your ballot over that weekend and mail it back by Wednesday, October 14 or as soon as possible thereafter. If you have questions or need help filling out your ballot, consult our handy 2026 General Election Ballot Guides.

If you are not on the list to receive your ballot by mail, you can still vote early by voting in person at a Vote Center, some of which will open as early as October 7. Sign in to your personal voter dashboard at BeBallotReady.vote to find days and hours of operation for the Vote Center nearest to you.