Civic Engagement

Important Election Information: November 3, 2026

Make your voice heard—every vote matters! 

Please visit the California Secretary of State’s website.

For the upcoming 2026 elections in California (including San Diego County/National City/Chula Vista area), these are the major elected offices expected to be on the ballot:

Statewide California Offices
Voters across California will elect:

• Governor
• Lieutenant Governor
• Secretary of State
• Attorney General
• State Treasurer
• State Controller
• Insurance Commissioner
• Superintendent of Public Instruction
• Members of the California State Board of Equalization (Wikipedia)
  
  

Federal Offices

• All California seats in the U.S. House of Representatives (Congress) (Wikipedia)
• Depending on your district, there may also be special congressional elections. (California Secretary of State)

California State Legislature. Depending on your district:

• California State Senate seats
• California State Assembly seats

Local San Diego / City Elections. For the San Diego municipal elections, these City Council districts are up in 2026:

• District 2
• District 4
• District 6
• District 8 (San Diego)

If you live in National City specifically, you may also see:

• National City Council races
• School board races
• Special district elections
• Local ballot measures

Chula Vista Elections (2026)
The following offices are on the ballot for the June 2, 2026 primary and November 3, 2026 general election:

• Mayor
• City Council District 1
• City Council District 2
• City Attorney (appears in November because only one candidate qualified) (Chula Vista City)
  Chula Vista uses a top-two election system:

VOTING OPTIONS
The following information is provided by the San Diego County Registrar of Voters Office:

1. Vote by Mail

• Complete your ballot at home.
• Sign and date your return envelope.
• Seal your completed ballot inside and return it by one of the following methods:
  • Mail It: Return promptly through the U.S. Postal Service.
  • Drop It: Beginning Tuesday, October 7, drop off your ballot at any official Registrar’s ballot drop box located throughout the county.

2. Vote In Person
If you prefer to vote in person, early voting and Election Day options are available:

• Early Voting:
  • Election Day (Tuesday, November 3):
    • All vote centers, official ballot drop boxes, and the Registrar’s office will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Need More Information?
Contact the San Diego County Registrar of Voters Office:
📧 Email: rovmail@sdcounty.ca.gov
📞 Phone: (858) 565-5800
🌐 Website: www.sdvote.com

Self Care during and after Elections

The upcoming National Elections can be exciting, intense, stressful, or challenging to some, so here are some helpful resources to help us navigate through the coming Election days. 

• Practicing Self-Care During Elections (courtesy of National Alliance on Mental Illness)
• Caring for Yourself During Election Season (courtesy of Indiana University School of Medicine)
• Eight Questions That Can Help You Survive Election Stress (courtesy of Greater Good Science Center)

Also, feel free to make an appointment with our Personal Wellness Services at (619) 421-6700 x5279 or by email at swcpersonalwellness@swccd.edu.

Elections & Voting Resources for Educators 2024 (compiled by Valissa Thomas, Director of DIEJ, The Bishop School)

Helpful Election Resources from CA Secretary of State

Vote Center Locations (San Diego County)

Important Dates

Register to Vote

Are You Eligible to Vote?  To vote in California, you must be: 

• A U.S. citizen and a resident of California
• 18 years or older on Election Day
• Not currently in state or federal prison or on parole for the conviction of a felony. For more information, please see Voting Rights: Persons with a Criminal History.
• And, not currently found mentally incompetent to vote by a court. For more information, please see Voting Rights: Persons Subject to Conservatorship.

Voting in California

To vote in California, you’ll need to be registered in California. Not registered yet, or not sure if you’re registered?

Register to Vote (County of San Diego)

Register to Vote (CA State)

Pre-Register to Vote

Check your Registration Status

California Voter Information Guide

Vote by Mail or in Person

All active registered voters will receive a vote-by-mail ballot. 

A vote-by-mail voter may vote by mail, in person at the Office of the County elections official, a satellite office established by the elections official, polling place, or vote center on or before the day of the election. 

How to Return your completed Vote-by-Mail Ballot (video)