A driver inserts a mail-in ballot into a dropbox outside the Sacramento County Voter Registration and Elections in Sacramento on June 2, 2026. Photo by Fred Greaves for CalMatters

Hi CalMatters reader – as you prepare to fill out your ballots, I’m sharing the latest additions to our voter guide, including a video series on the ballot measures.

📺 Props in a Minute breaks down the propositions into short, easy-to-understand explainers. You can watch a playlist of the videos or view them on each of the proposition pages in the Voter Guide.

🖨️  Last week we shared a zine that contains many of the key elements of our voter guide for you to print and share. This week we published a Spanish version of the zine.

📰 Our reporters have been busy covering the ballot propositions. Read their latest reporting for more background on the measures:

• Why are out-of-state billionaires funding a California voter ID measure?

• The same union supporting a billionaire tax wants voters to limit clinic spending. Here’s what to know about Prop. 44

• Democrats want to change the rules for recall elections. Voters get their say with Prop. 5

• 5 tax measures are on the California ballot. Here’s how to make sense of them all

🗣️ You can attend one of our VotingMatters events across the state to discuss the election issues that matter most in your community. You won’t want to miss our gatherings – as well as sparkling discussion, food will be provided at these events: 

• San Jose on Oct. 10 at The Eden Gardens (Indian Delicacy)

• Fort Bragg on Oct. 12 at the Fort Bragg Town Hall 

• Sacramento on Oct. 13 at the UC Student and Policy Center

• San Francisco on Oct. 13 at Manny’s 

🗓️ Key dates

• Oct. 19 – Last day to register to vote (or update your registration address) online to receive your ballot by mail. After October 19, you must complete same-day voter registration and request your ballot in person at your county election office or polling location.

• Oct. 27 – Last recommended day to mail your ballot at the post office.

• Oct. 31 – At least one early voting in-person location will open in every county to vote or drop off your ballot.

• Nov. 3 – Election Day!

Also, many of you reached out asking why you haven’t received voter guides in the mail from the state or your county. The California Secretary of State and counties are sending these guides through Oct. 13, so you should receive yours soon. You can also view the digital version of the state’s guide here.

Lastly, as you start researching and filling out your ballots, let us know if you have any questions. You can use our help page or reply to this email with your question. 

Best,