Your local guide to navigating the November 2026 General Election
Voter Guide 2026
Get to know the candidates and measures on your ballot with The Almanac’s 2026 Voter Guide, including in-depth profiles, issue comparison grids and campaign finance coverage.
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Latest Election Coverage
Charlotte Reed concedes as Laura Melahn leads Menlo Park District 4 council race
Singer and communications professional Charlotte Reed conceded to Laura Melahn on Nov. 6 after updated election results showed Melahn leading the race for Menlo Park City Council District 4 with 1,199 votes, 61.6% of the vote. Reed had 749 votes in the latest tally.
Menlo Park’s Measure P appears headed for failure
Menlo Park’s Measure P moved closer to defeat as votes continued to be counted from the Nov. 3 election. The latest results, released late on Friday afternoon, Nov. 6, showed 4,237 votes (46.2%), in favor of the measure to 4,939 (53.8%) opposed, widening the gap seen in earlier returns.
Velagapudi widens advantage over incumbent Combs in Menlo Park City Council election
Wonman Lee and Laura Melahn appear headed for victory in their Menlo Park City Council races, while Vamsi Velagapudi has widened his narrow lead over incumbent Drew Combs, according to updated results released Nov. 5.
Fresh off election triumph, Rep. Liccardo looks to focus on affordability, AI
Despite the “blue tsunami” in the midterm elections that flipped the U.S. House and Senate, Rep. Sam Liccardo (D-16) said he was hesitant to read the results as a mandate for the Democratic party.
Booze, ballots and an uncertain future for downtown Menlo Park’s Measure P
Election night results show Menlo Park’s Measure P — which would require voter approval to redevelop eight city-owned downtown parking lots — trailing by more than 300 votes, with 47.8% in favor (3,474 votes) to 52.2% against (3,799 votes) on election night.
Late influx of ballots slows down San Mateo County election count
San Mateo County voters may have to wait several more days for answers in close races after an influx of mail ballots and ballots with unclear markings slowed the election-night count.
Election Resources
Election Day — Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026
- Polls open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day
- In-person ballots must be received by 8 p.m. on Election Day
- Mail-in ballots must be postmarked on or before Nov. 3 and received within seven days following the election
Key Dates & Deadlines
- Oct. 5: Start of the early voting period. County election officials will begin mailing ballots to voters. Ballot drop boxes open and early voting begins at the Redwood City, San Mateo and South San Francisco, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.
- Oct. 19: Last day to register to vote with a standard ballot. (Note: Conditional voter registration is available in-person through Election Day, which involves the use of a provisional ballot.)
- Oct. 24: San Mateo County Registrar of Voters office Vote Centers open daily across the county.
- Oct. 27: Last day to request a vote-by-mail ballot replacement by mail.
- Oct. 31: Additional vote centers open in the county.
- Nov. 3: Election Day. Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. In-person ballots must be received by 8 p.m. Mail-in ballots must be postmarked on or before Nov. 3 and received within seven days following the election.
Check your voter registration
Make sure your registration is current. Voters should re-register if they change their name, political affiliation or residence.
Vote by mail
Get details about the process of voting by mail, including information on the different ways to return your ballot.
Vote in person
Find vote center locations, hours and information about early in-person voting.
Track your ballot
Sign up for the state’s “Where’s My Ballot?” tool. You will then receive notifications on the status of your vote-by-mail ballot, including when it’s mailed, received and counted.
More Election Coverage
San Mateo County voters back Measure J, giving more time to replace elected officials
Voters in San Mateo County signaled support for the Board of Supervisors getting extra time to figure out how to fill a seat in an…
San Mateo County’s redistricting Measure U takes commanding lead on election night
A San Mateo County ballot drop box outside the Belle Haven Community Campus in Menlo Park on Nov. 2, 2026. Photo by Seeger Gray. San…
California voters reject conservative voter ID proposal
Democratic Party leaders are breathing a sigh of relief after voters rejected Proposition 39, a GOP-backed voter ID measure that drew interest — and millions…
Regional transit measure set to pass
Voters in five Bay Area counties appeared to have approved a regional sales tax measure Tuesday that would raise an estimated $980 million annually to…
Portola Valley Town Council incumbents elected to another term
In an uncontested race, three incumbents will be returning to the Portola Valley Town Council for another four years. Mayor Craig Taylor and councilmembers Mary…
Two incumbents and one newcomer in line for seats on Menlo Park school board in early returns
Early election night results for Menlo Park City School District school board show newcomer Maya Herstein and incumbents Sherwin Chen and Jed Scolnick leading to…
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