California Secretary of State Alex Padilla

SACRAMENTO, CA, January 18, 2021 – Alex Padilla has resigned as California’s Secretary of State, in order to serve as California’s newest United States Senator. James Schwab has been sworn in as interim Secretary of State. Schwab previously served as Chief Deputy Secretary of State.   “It has been a true honor and privilege to […]

SACRAMENTO, CA, November 17, 2020 – California Secretary of State Alex Padilla issued the following statement on President Donald Trump’s tweet firing of CISA Director Chris Krebs. “The ongoing purge of respected, competent leaders who refuse to perpetuate Trump’s delusional conspiracy theories about the election is a disturbing sign for American government. It’s an assault […]

SACRAMENTO, CA – County elections officials are hard at work continuing to count ballots from the November 3, 2020, General Election. County elections officials have up to 30 days after Election Day to complete their extensive tallying, auditing, and certification work (known as the “official canvass”). The frequency of updated results varies by county.   California’s […]

SACRAMENTO, CA November 3, 2020 – Today, Californians will head to the polls to vote on twelve statewide propositions, and for U.S. President, U.S. House of Representatives, and State Legislative offices. Polls are open from 7:00am to 8:00pm.  “As the polls open, voter registration is at an all-time high in California, with more than 22 million Californians,” Secretary […]

SACRAMENTO, Calif. October 29, 2020 – On November 3, 2020 California county elections officials will work through the night counting ballots. In California, the vote count process does not end on Election Night. Due to state laws that ensure voters’ rights, ballots will continue to arrive and be counted after Election Day.   “California elections officials prioritize the right […]

SACRAMENTO, CA October 19, 2020 – Today, October 19, is the deadline for Californians to register to vote or update their voter registration in order to participate in the November 3, 2020, General Election. Voters who miss this deadline will still have the option of utilizing ‘Same Day’ voter registration, but will have to do so in person at their county elections […]

SACRAMENTO, CA October 16, 2020 – California Secretary of State Alex Padilla issued the following statement in response to reports of unauthorized drop boxes. “The California Republican Party is saying one thing in the press and another through their attorneys. “They have agreed that they will not use the unstaffed, unsecured, ballot drop boxes that are misleadingly labeled to look […]

SACRAMENTO, CA October 15, 2020 – More than 2 million registered California voters have now signed up for California’s ballot tracking service “Where’s My Ballot?” to receive automated notifications about their vote-by-mail ballots by email, text (SMS), or voice call.   “Signing up for ‘Where’s My Ballot?’ is one of the most prudent steps Californians can take to […]

SACRAMENTO, CA – As of this morning, over 1.5 million vote-by-mail ballots have already been returned by California voters. This is a massive increase compared to approximately 150,000 ballots returned at this same point in the 2016 General Election. “Californians are voting early in historic numbers,” Secretary of State Alex Padilla. “We knew the COVID-19 pandemic […]

SACRAMENTO, CA, September 24, 2020 – Governor Gavin Newsom has signed Executive Order N-80-20 making the Secretary of State’s Safe at Home confidential address program available to Local Health Officers and other public health officials. This is due to the threats and harassment health officials have faced in due to their work to protect public health during […]

SACRAMENTO, CA September 22, 2020 –  Today is National Voter Registration Day, and Secretary of State Alex Padilla is encouraging all Californians to make sure they are registered to vote for the November 3, 2020 General Election. “The 2020 General Election will be the most consequential election in a generation, and voter excitement is at a fever […]

SACRAMENTO, CA, August 25, 2020 – The Secretary of State’s “Where’s My Ballot?” tracking tool is now available to voters in all 58 California counties. All California voters can now sign-up at WheresMyBallot.sos.ca.gov to receive automated notifications about their vote-by-mail ballots by email, text (SMS), or voice call. This is an expansion from the 25 counties who […]

SACRAMENTO, CA, August 18, 2020 – Today, California Secretary of State Alex Padilla and California Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis re-launched the California Students Vote Project (CSVP) during a presentation to the University of California Student Association. CSVP is a first of its kind national campaign to increase civic engagement and voter participation among California University and college […]

SACRAMENTO, CA, July 27, 2020 – With less than 100 days until Election Day, California voters are being encouraged to Vote Safe by voting-by-mail or voting early this fall. All registered California voters should begin to prepare by verifying their voter registration and signing up for ballot tracking now. The Secretary of State’s office is launching Vote Safe California to educate […]

SACRAMENTO, CA – Governor Gavin Newsom has signed Executive Order N-64-20, a directive on how California will administer the November 3, 2020 General Election during the COVID-19 pandemic. Per the executive order, every registered voter will receive a vote-by-mail ballot. “California will not force voters to choose between protecting their health and exercising their right […]

SACRAMENTO, CA, April 24, 2020 – San Mateo County has become the 26th county to adopt the “Where’s My Ballot?” tool. Voters in San Mateo County can now sign-up at WheresMyBallot.sos.ca.gov to receive automated notifications about their vote-by-mail ballots by email, text (SMS), or voice call.   “San Mateo County voters who sign up for ‘Where’s My […]

SACRAMENTO, CA March 20, 2020 – As the State of California fights the spread of COVID-19, the Secretary of State’s office in Sacramento will be closing public counters effective March 20, 2020. The Secretary of State’s offices in both Sacramento and Los Angeles will remain open with limited staff, and critical functions and services provided by […]

SACRAMENTO, CA March 3, 2020 – The polls are now closed in California, and county elections officials will be hard at work counting ballots throughout the night. Election results can be viewed at electionresults.sos.ca.gov.   “The polls in California are now closed and county elections officials throughout the state will be working through the night processing and counting ballots,” Secretary of State Alex Padilla […]

SACRAMENTO, CA March 3, 2020 – Today, Californians will head to the polls to vote on one statewide proposition, as well as the primaries for U.S. President, U.S. House of Representatives, and State Legislative offices. Polls are open from 7:00am to 8:00pm.  “As the polls open on Super Tuesday, voter registration is at an all-time high in California,” Secretary […]