Attorney General Bonta Urges Early Mail Ballots and Highlights Voter Disability Rights Ahead of Nov 3 Election

California Attorney General Rob Bonta held a press conference in Los Angeles on Oct. 13, 2026, three weeks before the Nov. 3 general election. He stressed that mail voting remains safe and urged voters to send ballots at least one week before Election Day to avoid postmark and delivery problems.

Key Election Deadlines

Eligible Californians can register online until Monday, Oct. 19, at registertovote.ca.gov. After that date, voters must register in person through Same‑Day Voter Registration, also called Conditional Voter Registration.

How Mail Voting Works

To be counted, a mailed ballot must be postmarked on or before Election Day and received by the county elections office no later than seven days after Election Day. In the June 2026 primary, 148,241 mail ballots were rejected, nearly two‑thirds because they were postmarked late or arrived after the deadline.

Voters can reduce the risk of rejection by mailing their ballot early, requesting a postmark at the post office, or dropping the completed ballot off at a vote center or ballot drop box. Drop boxes stay open through Election Day; locations are listed at caearlyvoting.sos.ca.gov.

Disability Voting Access

The California Department of Justice released a guide, “Access to Voting for People with Disabilities,” outlining federal and state protections. The Voting Rights Act of 1965 allows voters who are blind or have other disabilities to receive assistance from a person of their choice. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires accessible voting facilities, parking, and routes. California’s Voter’s Choice Act extends these requirements to vote centers, and Government Code section 11135 bans disability‑based discrimination in state‑funded programs.

Anyone who believes they faced disability discrimination when registering or voting can file a complaint with the California Civil Rights Department.

Recent Court Wins Protecting Voting Rights

Last month the U.S. Supreme Court blocked a Trump Administration rule that would have added new mail‑voting requirements for the 2026 election. The California Supreme Court also ordered the return of about 650,000 ballots seized by Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco and affirmed the AG’s authority over county sheriffs. Earlier, an appellate court upheld an injunction against Shasta County’s Measure B, which sought to end vote‑by‑mail and add stricter ID rules.

For up‑to‑date voting information, visit sos.ca.gov/elections or track your ballot at wheresmyballot.sos.ca.gov. Voter rights violations can be reported in English at the Secretary of State’s Voter Hotline (800) 345‑VOTE, with Spanish, Tagalog, and Chinese options available, or by email at elections@sos.ca.gov.

If you have questions about how these rules affect your voting plan, consulting a lawyer can help clarify your rights and ensure you meet all deadlines.

This article is general information based on California Attorney General and court or agency records available at publication time. It is not legal advice; laws and deadlines differ by state and by case. Published October 13, 2026.