Today is the final day for Californians to sign up to receive a mail ballot for the June 2 primary—miss that cutoff and you must use in-person same-day registration to cast a ballot. The deadline matters now because ballots have already been mailed and counties are preparing for Election Day logistics across the state.
Election offices began sending ballots on May 4 to every active registered voter, and voters can confirm their status or register online through the California Online Voter Registration site. In San Luis Obispo County, officials say residents who miss the mail-ballot deadline still have a path to vote at polling places that accept same-day registration.
How same-day registration works
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At participating polling locations voters may complete a same-day registration form and fill out a ballot on site. Poll workers collect those ballots and forward them to the county Clerk-Recorder’s Office for eligibility checks and processing.
“We research to make sure that they’re actually eligible, and then we go ahead and process their vote when we determine that they are,” said Erin Clausen, public information officer for the San Luis Obispo County Clerk-Recorder’s Office.
Where and when to vote
Polls in San Luis Obispo County will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on June 2. Voters can locate their assigned polling place using the county’s polling place lookup tool; the ballot packet mailed to each voter also lists the assigned location.
Even if a voter receives a mail ballot from their home county, San Luis Obispo officials say ballots may be deposited in any local county drop box and will be forwarded to the voter’s county of registration for counting.
- Vote-by-mail: Ballots were mailed beginning May 4; return by mail or use a drop box before or on Election Day.
- Drop box: Secure boxes around the county accept ballots; boxes are forwarded to the voter’s home county if submitted outside it.
- In person: Visit a polling location on June 2 (7 a.m.–8 p.m.) to vote or to complete same-day registration if you missed the mail deadline.
Under California’s primary rules, party registration does not restrict which candidates a voter may select in the primary. Each voter may cast one vote per office and may leave any race blank. The top two vote-getters in each contest will move on to the November general election.
Clausen advised voters to act early when possible. “Getting it done if they’re able to ahead of time is going to be great,” she said, noting that completing the process ahead of Election Day helps election staff manage the workload and reduces the chance of delays.
If you’re unsure whether you’re registered or want to request a mail ballot, check the California Online Voter Registration site right away or use your county’s polling place lookup to find where to vote or submit a same-day registration form.
