SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Have you filled your ballot yet?

In California, eligible registered voters can participate in the 2024 general election by using vote-by-mail ballots instead of going to the polls in person.

Is it safe to send in your ballot by mail? And how can you check if your vote has been counted?

Here’s what you need to know about voting by mail ahead of Election Day on Tuesday, Nov. 5:

What is the deadline to vote in 2024 election?

The last day to vote will be Tuesday, Nov. 5.

Mailed ballots must be postmarked on or before Election Day and received by a county elections office no later than seven days after Election Day — Tuesday, Nov. 12, according to the California Secretary of State.

After completing your ballot, you should use the postage-paid envelope provided and sign the ballot before mailing it in.

Ballots must be properly signed, sealed and dated to be counted.

You can return your completed ballot by mailing it to a local county elections official, returning it in-person to a polling place or returning it at a drop-off location or a ballot drop box.

You can also authorize someone to return your ballot on your behalf.

Is it safe to mail your ballot in California?

According to the California Secretary of State, mailing your ballot is a safe way to cast your vote.

Ballots that are sent in the mail are listed as first class mail with postage already paid, so no stamps are required.

The U.S. Postal Service estimated that ballots are delivered to county elections offices within two to five days of being mailed.

The Secretary of State’s office communicates with mail plants throughout California to ensure U.S. Postal Service workers properly prioritize and speedily process mail-in ballots.

The Postal Service also does daily sweeps of processing areas to guarantee no unprocessed ballot mail is left behind.

If any issues with mail-in ballots are identified, California elections officials contact the U.S. Postal Service immediately, according to its website.

How to check if your vote is counted

The California Secretary of State’s Office has created a way to let eligible registered voters know when their ballots have been mailed, received and counted.

Powered by BallotTrax, Where’s My Ballot? lets voters know “where their ballot is, and its status, every step of the way,” the California Secretary of State’s Office said.

You can choose whether to receive text messages, emails or calls about your ballot and its progress through the electoral system.

You’ll get alerts if there are any issues with your ballot.

Track the status of your mail-in ballot by signing up at WheresMyBallot.sos.ca.gov.

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