NOVEMBER 3, 2026 GENERAL ELECTION
Abbreviated Election Calendar
June 3, 2026 (E-153)
Resolutions – Recommended Deadline
Recommended last day for schools and special districts to adopt resolution calling an election and specifying the election order.
June 3, 2026 (E-153)
Maps and Boundaries – Recommended Deadline
Recommended last day to certify and transmit maps and boundaries to the Elections Office.
June 19, 2026
County Holiday
The Voter Registration and Elections office will be closed - Sacramento County Code § 2.78.710
July 1, 2026 (E-125)
Resolutions - Code Deadline
Last day for special districts to adopt resolution calling an election - Elections Code § 10509
July 3, 2026 (E-123)
Specification of the Election Order
Last day for schools to deliver a resolution to the County Superintendent of Schools and the Election’s Office - Education Code § 5322
July 3, 2026
County Holiday
The Voter Registration and Elections office will be closed - Sacramento County Code § 2.78.710
July 6, 2026 (E-120)
Order and Notice of Election
Code deadline for County Superintendent of Schools to deliver Order and Notice of Election to the County Elections Office - Elections Code §§ 5324, 5325(b)
July 6, 2026 – August 5, 2026 (E-120 to E-90)
Order and Notice of Election
The Voter Registration and Elections office shall publish a Notice of Election once in a newspaper of general circulation - Education Code § 5363, Elections Code §§ 12112, 12113
July 13, 2026 – August 7, 2026 (E-113 to E-88)
Nomination Period
During this period candidates must file their Declaration of Candidacy and all other nomination paperwork by 5:00 p.m. A person shall not file nomination paperwork for more than one district office or term of office for the same district at the same election - Elections Code §§ 10407, 10510
A candidate may prepare a Candidate Statement on the appropriate form provided by the elections official. The statement may include the name and occupation of the candidate, and a brief description of the candidate’s education and qualifications expressed by the candidate. The statement shall be filed in the Voter Registration and Elections office at the time the candidate’s nomination paperwork is filed - Elections Code § 13307
July 28, 2026 (E-98)
Deadline to Request Changes in Ballot Designation
Last day any candidate may request any ballot designation changes from the one used in the Primary. This must be done in writing by 5:00 p.m. - Elections Code § 13107(h)
July 31, 2026 (E-95)
Campaign Reports-Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC)
The last day to file Semi-Annual campaign reports - Government Code § 84200
August 7, 2026 (E-88)
Candidate Withdrawal Deadline
No candidate who has filed a Declaration may withdraw as a candidate, after 5 p.m. on this date - Elections Code §§ 10224, 10510, 10603(b)
August 8, 2026 – August 12, 2026 (E-87 to E-83)
Nomination Extension Period
If an incumbent does not file nomination papers by 5:00 p.m. on August 7, 2026, (E-88) there will be a 5-calendar day extension period during which any qualified person other than the incumbent may file. This extension does not apply if there is no eligible incumbent, or if an incumbent has served the maximum number of terms as permitted by the California Constitution - Elections Code §§ 10225, 10407(b),10604
August 10, 2026 (E-85)
Candidate Statement Withdrawal Deadline
Last day for a candidate to withdraw their candidate statement. This must be done in writing by 5:00 p.m. This deadline does not apply to offices in nomination extension -Elections Code § 13307(3)
August 8, 2026 – August 17, 2026 (E-87 to E-78)
Public Examination Period – Candidate Statements
This is a 10-calendar day review period for Candidate Statements submitted during the nomination extension period. During this time, any individual may file a Writ of Mandate or injunction to amend or delete any part of the Candidate Statement. All Writs of Mandate must be filed by 5:00 p.m. no later than August 17, 2026. Elections Code § 13313
August 12, 2026 (E-83)
Write-In Campaign Against Unopposed Incumbent Judges
This is the last day to file a petition indicating that a write-in campaign will be conducted against an unopposed superior court judicial candidate who has filed nomination paperwork in the Primary Election. The petition must be signed by at least 0.1 percent of the registered voters qualified to vote with the respect to the office, provided that the petition shall contain at least 100 signatures but need not contain more than 600 signatures - Elections Code § 8203(b)
August 13, 2026 (E-82)
Randomized Alphabet Drawing
The Secretary of State and Counties will conduct a Randomized Alphabet Drawing at 11:00 a.m. to determine the order of candidates on the ballot - Elections Code §§ 13111(i),13112
August 13, 2026 – August 22, 2026 (E-82 to E-73)
Public Examination Period – Extension Candidates
This is a 10-day calendar review period for Candidate Statements submitted during the nomination extension period. During this time, any individual may file a Writ of Mandate or injunction to amend or delete any part of the Candidate Statement. All Writ of Mandates must be filed by 5:00 p.m. no later than Friday, August 21, 2026 -Elections Code § 13313
August 27, 2026 (E-68)
Ballot Designation Challenge Deadline
Challenging a ballot designation must be done by filing a Writ of Mandate with the Superior Court no later than 5:00 p.m. on this date.
September 7, 2026
County Holiday
The Voter Registration and Elections office will be closed - Sacramento County Code § 2.78.710
September 7, 2026 – October 20, 2026 (E-57 to E-14)
Write-In Candidate Filing Period
A name written on a ballot will not be counted unless the person has filed a Statement of Write-In Candidacy, and submitted nomination signatures, if applicable by 5:00 p.m. Write-in candidates cannot run for voter-nominated offices in the general election - Elections Code §§ 8600, 8601, 8606
September 24, 2026 (E-40)
Campaign Reports - Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC)
The last day to file 1st Pre-election campaign reports - Government Code § 84200.5
September 24, 2026 – October 13, 2026 (E-40 to E-21)
County Voter Information Guide Mailings
The County Voter Information Guides must be mailed no later than 21 days before the election to all voters who were registered at least 29 days before the election. Voters who have opted to receive the guide electronically will not receive a printed copy - Elections Code § 13303
October 5, 2026 (E-29)
Vote by Mail Voting
Ballots are mailed to all registered voters - Elections Code § 4005(a)(8)(A)
October 5, 2026 (E-29)
Process Vote by Mail Ballots
The Voter Registration and Elections office begins processing returned Vote by Mail ballots - Elections Code § 15101
October 5, 2026 (E-29)
Ballot Drop Box Location open
All official Ballot Drop Box locations open this day and remain open through Election Day - Elections Code § 4005(a)(8)(A)
October 12, 2026
County Holiday
The Voter Registration and Elections office will be closed - Sacramento County Code § 2.78.710
October 19, 2026 (E-15)
Deadline to Register to Vote
This is the last day to register online or by mail to vote in the November 2026 election. You can still register to vote or update your registration at our office or any Vote Center location in the County through Election Day - Elections Code §§ 2102, 2170, 2171
October 22, 2026 (E-12)
Campaign Reports-Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC)
This is the last day to file the 2nd Pre-election campaign reports - Government Code § 84200.5
October 24, 2026 (E-10)
Vote Centers
Some Vote Centers open on this date - Elections Code § 4005(a)(4)(A)
October 31, 2026 (E-03)
Vote Centers Increase
All Vote Center locations open through Election Day - Elections Code § 4005(a)(3)(A)
November 3, 2026
Election Day
All Vote Centers Open: 7:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. All ballots mailed must be postmarked on or before this date to be counted - Elections Code §§ 1000, 4005(a)(3)(A)2
November 11, 2026
County Holiday
The Voter Registration and Elections office will be closed - Sacramento County Code § 2.78.710
November 26, 2026 – November 27, 2026
County Holiday
The Voter Registration and Elections office will be closed - Sacramento County Code § 2.78.710
December 3, 2026 (E+30)
Completion of Official Canvass
Deadline to Certify Election Results - Elections Code § 15372
February 1, 2027
Campaign Reports-Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC)
This is the last day to file Semi-Annual Campaign Reports - Government Code § 84200