What time do polls open and close in California on Election Day? Here's what to know
For voters eager to cast their ballot in person for the 2024 presidential election, here is when polling places open and close in California.
What time do polls open in California on Election Day?
Polling locations and vote centers in California must open at 7 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 5. Voters who are there at opening should hear poll workers loudly announce that "the polls are open."
According to the Secretary of State, ballots cannot be cast until the announcement is made.
Same-day voter registration is available at specific polling places to California residents who missed the deadline in October. Same-day registration voters will get a provisional ballot that will count once their information is confirmed.
Polling locations are required to stay open until 8 p.m. closing.
What time do polls close in California on Election Day?
Similar to opening time, anyone at the polling place at 8 p.m. will hear poll workers announce, "the polls are closed," according to the California Secretary of State's office.
Upon closing at 8 p.m., a poll worker will stand at the end of the line to inform anyone showing up that the center is closed.
Related: What's on the California ballot in the 2024 election? A guide to the statewide races
However, anyone who lined up before 8 p.m. will still be able to cast their ballot.
Are there any exceptions to California's polling place hours?
The set hours for polling places are 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., but the closing hour could be extended by a court order.
Voters who cast their ballot during an extended hour, as set by a court order, will have to cast their vote using a provisional ballot.
Those ballots will also be stored separately from other provisional ballots that were submitted before 8 p.m.
