How to vote in San Jose:  Deadlines, drop boxes and vote centers

San Jose voters have until 8 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 3, to cast a ballot.  Here is how to do it, and the deadlines that still matter.

Mail ballots

Every registered voter in California is mailed a ballot.  Counties had to start mailing them by Oct. 5, according to the Secretary of State.

A mailed ballot counts only if it is postmarked by Election Day and arrives by Nov. 10, seven days later.  The Secretary of State's office urges voters who mail ballots to do it “as soon as possible,” citing recent changes to postal operations.

Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters Matt Moreles has said the Postal Service does not promise a same-day postmark.  His office suggests using a drop box or a vote center in the final week instead.

Drop boxes

The county has 111 official ballot drop boxes.  They are open around the clock until 8 p.m. on Nov. 3.  County workers collect ballots every day and track who handles them.

Vote centers

Santa Clara County votes under the state's Voter's Choice Act, so it uses vote centers instead of neighborhood polling places.  Any registered county voter may use any vote center in the county.

Twenty-three vote centers opened on Oct. 24.  Another 87 open Saturday, Oct. 31, for a total of 110.  They are open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily through Nov. 2, and 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day.

At a vote center you can vote in person, get a replacement ballot, drop off a mail ballot, or register and vote the same day.  Centers also offer language help, curbside voting and accessible voting machines.

Missed the registration deadline?

The regular deadline to register was Oct. 19.  Eligible citizens can still use Same Day Voter Registration, called conditional voter registration in state law, through Election Day.

You must do it in person at the county elections office or a vote center.  You fill out a registration form and vote a ballot, and it is counted once the county finishes checking your registration.

Track your ballot

Registered voters can sign up for the state's Where's My Ballot service at wheresmyballot.sos.ca.gov.  It sends automatic updates, including whether a ballot has been received, counted or needs correction.  Voters can check their registration at voterstatus.sos.ca.gov.

Time off work

State law lets workers take up to two hours off without losing pay to vote, if they can't vote outside work hours.  Workers must tell their employer two working days before Election Day.

Help

The state voter hotline is (800) 345-VOTE (8683) in English and (800) 232-VOTA (8682) in Spanish.  It also has lines in Chinese, Hindi, Japanese, Khmer, Korean, Tagalog, Thai and Vietnamese.  The county's line is (866) 430-8683.

Source:  California Secretary of State, key dates and deadlines; Secretary of State, Oct. 24, 2026 release on vote centers; Secretary of State, Oct. 27, 2026 release on time off to vote; Secretary of State, Same Day Voter Registration; County of Santa Clara, Oct. 26, 2026 release (not opened; see note); Palo Alto Ledger, Oct. 29, 2026 (tip; relays the county release)