The election is going to look a little different this year, thanks to the coronavirus. Whether you’re planning to vote by mail or in-person, here’s what you need to know to make sure you stay safe and your vote gets counted.
What to Know
County elections offices opened for in-person voting in early October.
Select vote centers opened Oct. 24.
Hundreds more vote centers opened Friday.
Southern California voters can cast ballots in-person at hundreds of vote centers on or before Election Day.
About 10 million of California's 22 million registered voters have already cast ballots.
You already voted? Click here to track your ballot.
You'll need to check with your county elections office listed below to see when and where vote centers are open the day before Election Day. Secure ballot dropbox locations also will be available.
As for mail-in ballots, those were sent to voters the week of Oct. 5. Under an order issued by the governor, county elections offices in California will send mail-in ballots to all registered votes. They must be postmarked by Nov. 3, but can also be dropped off at vote centers.
LA County Vote by Mail Drop Boxes
Click markers for details
Source: Los Angeles County The Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk
Los Angeles County
Voting at the county registrar-recorder office began Oct. 5.
Select vote centers opened for in-person voting Oct. 24. About 50,000 people cast ballots at vote centers on opening weekend.
All locations will be open beginning Oct. 30. The centers will be open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
There are a few options for in-person early voting in Orange County -- vote centers, mobile locations and the supersite at Honda Center.
Pop-up vote centers opened Oct. 24. Early voting locations, including the Honda Center in Anaheim, will be open for voting and ballot drop-off Oct. 30.
Click here for a list of secure ballot dropbox locations.
Voting at the registrar of voters office began Oct. 5 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The office was open Oct. 24 and will be open for the three days before Election Day from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Other sites will be open Oct. 23 through 25 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Click here for a list of ballot dropoff locations.
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Windows of the Beverly Wilshire, A Four Seasons Hotel, are boarded up at Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills, California, U.S., on Sunday, Nov. 1, 2020. After being caught off guard during nationwide social unrest this summer and suffering millions in damages, retailers are prepping for another possible bout of vandalism on Election Day. Photographer: Patrick T. Fallon/Bloomberg via Getty Images
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Pedestrians wearing protective masks walk past a boarded up store on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills, California, U.S., on Sunday, Nov. 1, 2020. After being caught off guard during nationwide social unrest this summer and suffering millions in damages, retailers are prepping for another possible bout of vandalism on Election Day. Photographer: Patrick T. Fallon/Bloomberg via Getty Images
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A jewelry store in Beverly Hills is being boarded up in anticipation of violence as a result of the upcoming U.S. presidential election, October 30, 2020 in Beverly Hills, California. – Amid one of the most contentious presidential elections in recent memory, business owners in the world-renowned high-end shopping area were encouraged to protect their businesses from possible protests or violence. (Photo by Robyn Beck / AFP) (Photo by ROBYN BECK/AFP via Getty Images)
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An election worker displays the “Hamilton”-themed “I Voted” stickers at the vote center for the US presidential election at the Pantages Theatre in Hollywood, California on October 30, 2020. – The theatre’s second run of the hit Broadway musical “Hamilton” was cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic. (Photo by Robyn Beck / AFP) (Photo by ROBYN BECK/AFP via Getty Images)
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People cast their ballot in the US presidential election at the Pantages Theatre in Hollywood, California on October 30, 2020. – The theatre’s second run of the hit Broadway musical “Hamilton” was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. (Photo by Robyn Beck / AFP) (Photo by ROBYN BECK/AFP via Getty Images)
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People walk past the Pantages Theatre, now a polling place where people can cast their ballots for the Presidential Election starting today, in Hollywood, California on October 30, 2020. – The theatre’s second run of the hit Broadway musical “Hamilton” was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. (Photo by Robyn Beck / AFP) (Photo by ROBYN BECK/AFP via Getty Images)
INGLEWOOD, CA – OCTOBER 30: Voters enter the trailer to cast their ballots in a parking lot of SoFi Stadium in Inglewood on Friday, October 30, 2020. (Photo by Brittany Murray/MediaNews Group/Long Beach Press-Telegram via Getty Images)
A man wearing a Sandy Koufax LA Dodgers jersey votes at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California on October 30, 2020, as more centers open for early voting. (Photo by Frederic J. BROWN / AFP) (Photo by FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images)
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People cast their vote at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California on October 30, 2020, as centers open for early voting. (Photo by Frederic J. BROWN / AFP) (Photo by FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images)
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Mascot Wild Wing of the Anaheim Ducks demonstrates the voting process during a press preview of a voting center to be used during the 2020 presidential election at the Honda Center sports arena on September 16, 2020 in Anaheim, California. The vote center includes both drive-thru and walk-in voting. (Photo by David McNew/Getty Images)
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Compton Cowboys Kevin Atkins, 69, casts his ballot at the Compton Library in Compton on October 25, 2020. The Compton Cowboys began their ride in a 24-Hour Fitness Parking lot and wound its way through the streets of Compton toward a ballot box at the Compton Civic Center so they could cast their ballots. The Compton Cowboys, were joined by horse riding group Connecting Compton and others for the 1.6 mile ride to encourage residents from Compton and surrounding areas to exercise their right to vote.
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COMPTON, CA – OCTOBER 25: Compton Cowboys Randy Savvy, holding his ballot, and other members of the group, arrive on horseback at the Compton Library to cast their votes in a ballot box in Compton on October 25, 2020. The ride began in a 24-Hour Fitness Parking lot and wound its way through the streets of Compton towards a ballot box at the Compton Civic Center. The Compton Cowboys, were joined by horse riding group Connecting Compton and others for the 1.6 mile ride to encourage residents from Compton and surrounding areas to exercise their right to vote.
Compton Cowboys, some lifting their ballots, ride through the streets of Compton towards the Compton Library to cast their votes in a ballot box on October 25, 2020. The ride began in a 24-Hour Fitness Parking lot and wound its way through the streets of Compton towards a ballot box at the Compton Civic Center.
Photo by Irfan Khan/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images
Voters arrive in full face mask to vote at at In-person early voting place at Azusa Women’s Club on October 24, 2020 in Azusa, California.
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People cast their ballot at the Beverly Hills City Hall voting center set up in a parking garage on October 28, 2020, in Beverly Hills.
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Mail-in ballots for the US presidential election await distribution to workers who will sort, examine and verify the ballots, at the Los Angeles County Registrar Recorders’ mail-in ballot processing center at the Pomona Fairplex in Pomona, California, October 28, 2020.
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A poll worker helps voters to put their ballot in the Drop-off box at the Beverly Hills City Hall vote center set up in a parking garage on October 28, 2020, in Beverly Hills.
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People vote on the first day of early voting at the Vote Center at Staples Center sports and entertainment arena in Los Angeles, California, on October 24, 2020. (Photo by DAVID MCNEW / AFP) (Photo by DAVID MCNEW/AFP via Getty Images)
PASADENA, CA – OCTOBER 13: A woman drops off her ballot at an Official Ballot Drop Box located near the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, CA October 13, 2020. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
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A voter holds onto her ballot while entering an Early Vote Center in Huntington Beach, California on October 27, 2018, as voting begins in the traditional Republican stronghold of Orange County. (Photo by Frederic J. BROWN / AFP) (Photo credit should read FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images)
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People vote on the first day of early voting at the Vote Center at Staples Center sports and entertainment arena in Los Angeles, California, on October 24, 2020. (Photo by DAVID MCNEW / AFP) (Photo by DAVID MCNEW/AFP via Getty Images)
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People vote on the first day of early voting at the Vote Center at Staples Center sports and entertainment arena in Los Angeles, California, on October 24, 2020. (Photo by DAVID MCNEW / AFP) (Photo by DAVID MCNEW/AFP via Getty Images)
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People cast their vote on the first day of early voting at the Vote Center at Staples Center sports and entertainment arena in Los Angeles, California, on October 24, 2020. (Photo by DAVID MCNEW / AFP) (Photo by DAVID MCNEW/AFP via Getty Images)
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A man wears a jersey honoring the late Lakers basketball star, Kobe Bryant, at the Vote Center at Staples Center sports and entertainment arena on the first day of early voting in Los Angeles, California, on October 24, 2020. – Voters can drop off mail-in ballots or vote in person from October 24 through November 3. (Photo by DAVID MCNEW / AFP) (Photo by DAVID MCNEW/AFP via Getty Images)
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Vote center signage and a photo of Elvis Presley, who performed at the venue, are seen in the hallway through which voters enter to cast their ballots at the Vote Center inside The Forum multi-purpose indoor arena on the first day of early voting in Inglewood, California, on October 24, 2020. – Voters can drop off mail-in ballots or vote in person from October 24 through November 3. (Photo by DAVID MCNEW / AFP) (Photo by DAVID MCNEW/AFP via Getty Images)
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People cast their ballots on the first day of early voting at Union Station, October 24, 2020, in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by VALERIE MACON / AFP) (Photo by VALERIE MACON/AFP via Getty Images)
Election Day Voting
On Election Day, you can vote in-person, or drop off your mail-in ballot from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.. Under California elections code, voters who are in line by the time polls close must be allowed to cast ballots.
Ballots returned by mail must be postmarked by Nov. 3.
