By admin 
The 2026 midterm election is coming up in California, and this year’s ballot includes statewide races, such as the governor’s race, as well as a long list of ballot propositions.
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Other top California executive offices, U.S. representatives and local Sacramento-area posts are up for election, and it can be overwhelming researching the options that best align with each voter’s values.
Organizations around the Sacramento region are helping voters figure out the complicated web of candidate policies, including the League of Women Voters of Sacramento County.
“When we table at community events and we are encouraging voting … many people will say, ‘Well, I don’t know what’s there,’” said Claudia Bonsignore, co-president of LWV of Sacramento County said prior to the June primary. “And I say, ‘Well, I can empathize.’”
Here’s what to know when researching your ballot this election season.
What are important election dates?
The 2026 general election in California is Tuesday, Nov. 3. Voters can register by mail or online by Monday, Oct. 19, or they can register in-person at the polls on Election Day.
The California Secretary of State website said early voting and ballot drop-off locations for the general election will be coming on Oct. 5, the same date county elections officials will begin mailing ballots.
Where can I find out more about what’s on my ballot in California?
Voter organizations in California and across the country have created guides and resources online for voters to gather the information they need to make a choice on their ballot.
The League of Women Voters has created a website, vote411.org, designed to educate voters across the state and around the country.
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“One position (the LWV) took at some point is that we don’t think candidates should have to spend money,” Bonsignore said before the June 2 primary election. “Another position would be that voters should be informed so that they can make choices. What that’s led to is our current non-partisan voter information site.”
Vote411.org is a nonprofit, it does not give endorsements or policy opinions. It provides factual information on voting and offers candidates a platform to showcase their opinions at no cost. Users can search for their address and get curated information on what will be on their specific ballot.
On the LWV website, voters can even register to vote or sign up to be a polling location worker.
These other voter organizations also provide voter education resources:
- OnTheIssues.org – Candidate policy stances, political track record, debate dates
- Ballotpedia.org – Information on current elected officials
- PluralPolicy.com – Current bills and their status
Many news organizations are assembling voter guides — including The Bee — which include reporting from the newsroom as well as endorsements from editorial boards.
Which government resources are available so I can educate myself on the issues?
For more official resources, California county election offices consolidates information about upcoming elections on their websites. Sacramento County has a Voter Portal online with a wealth of information on registering to vote, tracking a submitted mail-in ballot, determining districts based on address and plenty more.
The county’s site contains relevant information about the election, as well as candidate statements specifically for the districts each voter resides in. It also outlines candidate filing deadlines and other key dates.
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Here are other government-affiliated voter education resources for Californians:
- City of Sacramento – municipal elections and ballot measure information
- Placer County Elections Office – information for Placer County voters
- Yolo County Assessor-Clerk-Recorder-Elections office – information for Yolo County voters
- El Dorado County – information for El Dorado County voters
- California Secretary of State office – information on statewide races
- Federal Election Commission – campaign finance data