A permanent street address is not required to vote in California. Here is how state rules apply to two groups who often get confused about where they belong on the rolls: college students and people experiencing homelessness.
College students: school or home, not both
According to the Secretary of State, students can register at their campus address or at their home address. They cannot register in both places in the same election. The residence address you choose decides which local races and measures appear on your ballot. Your mailing address can be different. It can be your dorm or a parent's house, wherever you will actually get the ballot.
Students studying abroad can use the Federal Post Card Application to register and request a ballot as overseas voters.
No home? Describe where you stay
The Secretary of State's guidance says people experiencing homelessness can list as their residence a place where they return regularly, such as a shelter, a park or the cross streets where they sleep. A P.O. box or a business address can be used to receive mail, but it cannot serve as the residence address.
In San Francisco, SF.gov says voters who can't receive mail can pick up their voting materials or vote in person at the City Hall Voting Center.
Missed the deadline?
The standard deadline to register is 15 days before the election, and it has passed for Nov. 3. After that, California offers same-day conditional voter registration at county elections offices and vote centers, through Election Day. Details are in our registration guide.
Some older state fact sheets list dates from past elections. Use the current dates for Nov. 3, 2026.
How to vote
Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3. Polls and vote centers close at 8 p.m., and mailed ballots must be postmarked by Election Day and arrive within seven days. You can check your registration and ballot status at sos.ca.gov/elections. California lets you register and vote the same day at a vote center.
More races and measures: our 2026 election hub.