# California 2026 general election preparations

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/california-2026-general-election-preparations
> Updated: 2026-10-05T13:00:00.000Z. Sources: 25. Developments: 2.

The mail-in ballot process has commenced for the November 3, 2026, general election in California. In Los Angeles County, officials have begun dispatching ballots to all registered voters, providing resources such as the ‘Where’s My Ballot?’ tracking tool and over 400 drop boxes. Local contests include the Los Angeles mayoral race between incumbent Karen Bass and Nithya Raman.

Across the state, the ballot features a significant number of tax-related propositions, the highest since 1994. Key statewide measures include Proposition 40, which proposes a wealth tax for public health insurance, and opposing measures, Propositions 41 and 42, which seek to nullify that tax. Other notable items include Proposition 3 regarding income tax rates for top earners, and Proposition 43, which concerns the voting threshold for local tax proposals.

As early voting continues, election officials are focusing on security and transparency. In Riverside County, officials are hosting observer tours to build public trust following a legal dispute over ballot seizures. In Imperial County, officials are implementing a ‘two-person buddy system’ for chain-of-custody and utilizing offline voting hardware to mitigate cyberattack risks.

Amidst these processes, California Attorney General Rob Bonta has issued reassurances that mail-in voting remains secure, addressing concerns regarding efforts by the Trump administration to restrict the practice. He noted that recent Supreme Court rulings have addressed disputes involving voter roll data and postal service handling.

## Claims

- Illinois has sent over 1 million ballots to voters, significantly outpacing 2022 midterm numbers. (single source)
- Riverside County is hosting election observer tours to increase transparency in ballot processing. (single source)
- Imperial County uses a two-person buddy system for ballot handling and offline hardware to prevent hacking. (single source)
- California’s Attorney General stated that mail-in voting remains secure despite federal attempts to restrict it. (single source)
- New Zealand voters must be enrolled by October 25 to participate in the 2026 General Election. (single source)
- Boulder County is conducting tours of its ballot processing center to build public confidence. (single source)

## Timeline

### 2026-10-05: Election officials implement security measures as early voting begins

Early voting and ballot distribution are ramping up for the November 3 election in the US and New Zealand, with a heavy focus on election security, transparency, and voter registration deadlines.

22 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/california-begins-mailing-ballots-for-november-2026-election

### 2026-10-02: Los Angeles County begins mailing ballots for 2026 election

Los Angeles County has started mailing ballots for the November 3, 2026, general election, featuring a mayoral race between Karen Bass and Nithya Raman.

3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/los-angeles-county-begins-mailing-ballots-for-2026-election

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Cite as: California 2026 general election preparations. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/california-2026-general-election-preparations