Get Ready for the June 2nd Primary Election

The June 2nd California primary election is fast approaching. Here’s a list to help you get ready to vote.

Make Sure You’re Registered to Vote

• Register to vote by May 18 at registertovote.ca.gov

• Check your registration status to make sure it’s up to date at voterstatus.sos.ca.gov

Where to Vote

• By mail: according to the CA Voter Guide, mailed ballots must be postmarked on or before Election Day and received no later than 7 days after Election Day. To ensure your ballot is postmarked by Election Day make sure to mail it at least five days before Election Day, June 2, 2026.If mailing on Election Day, get a hand-stamped postmark from a postal employee inside a United States Post Office.

• By dropbox: you can drop your ballot in an official dropbox up until 8pm on Election Day, June 2nd. The list of dropboxes for Contra Costa County is here.

• In person: according to the County Voter Guide, you can vote in person at any polling place within the county on June 2, between 7am and 8pm. 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. Find a polling place.

Key Dates

• May 4: Ballots mailed to all voters; ballot boxes open, and in-person voting available at Election Office. See note below regarding the California Governor’s race.

• May 18: Last day to register to vote and receive a Vote-By-Mail ballot. After this date, you can register to vote in person.

• May 29: Regional Early Voting sites open.

• Tuesday, June 2 is Election Day: Your voting location is open from 7am to 8pm.

California Governor Candidates - Strategy for 2026

This year, be strategic in when and how you vote. In this primary election, there are many candidates for Governor on our ballots. Only two candidates with the most votes, regardless of party, will run against each other in the November “general” election. So it’s possible that those two candidates will be from the same political party.

Some low-polling candidates are dropping out of the field. Make your vote count—don’t vote for someone who can’t win. Watch the polls as we get closer to the election. Stay informed and vote strategically.

Recorded Presentations by the Top Three Democratic Candidates

• Xavier Becerra - Concord, April 23, 2026

• Katie Porter - Walnut Creek, April 23, 2026

• Tom Steyer - Walnut Creek, May 3, 2026
  

The Ballot Book’s California Governor Polling Aggregator. Track the 2026 race. See the current averages, compare pollsters, and explore the data behind the headlines.

Voter Guides

• CalMatters — a nonpartisan, nonprofit news organization

  • CalMatters’ 2026 Voter Guide

  • Take the CalMatters “Choose Your Next Governor” quiz

  • Governor Q&As

  • California treasurer candidate comparison

  • Who wants to be California’s insurance commissioner? Your guide to the candidates.

• League of Women Voters Diablo Valley: Ballot Measure Recommendations for the 2026 CA Primary Election

• American Association of University Women, Danville/Alamo/Walnut Creek branch: Information about Select State and County Races

Ways to Get Involved

To help boost election turnout —> go to this list of organizations that host online phone-banking training and events, postcard-writing parties, and field trips to canvass in congressional districts that we’re working to flip from red to blue. These actions are critical close to election time. Studies have shown that voter turnout increases by up to 9 percentage points through door-to-door canvassing.

Helpful Links

• Secretary of State, Elections & Voting Information: sos.ca.gov/elections

• Vote411 – see what’s on your ballot: vote411.org

• League of Women Voters, Easy Voter Guide

• The East Bay Times, Endorsements

• The Mercury News, “How would the next Lt. Gov. fix student housing, protect immigrant rights and handle the Trump administration?”

Thanks to Susan, Ogie, Kris and Lisa for compiling this information.