Every vote matters. Here's what happened statewide — and exactly how to make sure yours counts.
148,241
Mail ballots rejected statewide in the June 2026 primary
Statewide Data
Why Ballots Got Rejected
Received Too Late
Your ballot must be RECEIVED by your county elections office within 7 days after Election Day — a postmark alone will not save it.
93,479
ballots not counted
That's about 63% of all ballots rejected statewide — by far the single biggest reason.
Statewide Data
Why Ballots Got Rejected
Signature Did Not Match
Signature on the ballot envelope did not compare to the voter's registration record
43,977
ballots not counted
That's about 30% of all ballots rejected statewide — the second most common reason.
Take Action
Make Sure Your Ballot Counts
1
Mail It Early
Start filling it out in pencil until you're ready to finalize your choices, then ink it in — take your time as you learn more, since you may want to change your mind
Mail it at least two weeks early — by Tuesday, October 20, 2026 for the November 3 election
Postmarked isn't enough — your ballot must be received by your county elections office within 7 days after Election Day.
Take Action
Make Sure Your Ballot Counts
2
Sign It Right
Look at your driver's license signature first
Sign your ballot the same way
Update it at your county elections office if it's changed due to age or illness
Simple rule: sign your ballot the way you signed your driver's license.
Watch Out For
Common Signature Pitfalls
First-Time Voters
Check your driver's license: sign your ballot the same way, or visit your county elections office as soon as possible to update your signature on file.
Changed Your Name
Married or changed your name but haven't updated your ID? Sign to match the name and signature on file with your county.
Signature Changed With Age Or Illness
You can update it anytime, or if you don't have a California driver's license — just visit your county elections office and complete a new signature card.
★★El Dorado County · June 2, 2026 Primary
Just Over Half of El Dorado County Voted
Only 76,088 of El Dorado County's 137,636 registered voters cast a ballot in the June 2026 primary.
55.28%
Voter turnout in El Dorado County — every vote shifts that number.
El Dorado County Data
Why Local Ballots Got Rejected
Arrived Too Late
By far the single biggest local reason — postmarked in time isn't enough, the ballot must reach the elections office within the legal deadline
589
ballots rejected — arrived too late
That's about 68.7% of El Dorado County's 857 total vote-by-mail rejections. Signature issues made up only 257 combined — a much smaller factor than late arrival.
El Dorado County Data
Why Local Ballots Got Rejected
257 Signature Rejections
Of El Dorado County's 857 total rejections, 257 were signature issues — most mismatches, not blank envelopes
191
mismatched signatures
Another 66 ballots were simply unsigned — 257 combined, 30.0% of all local rejections.
Fixing signature issues can change the outcome of local elections!
What We Don't Know For Sure
Why Ballots Actually Arrive Late
Postmark Timing Is Ambiguous
"Received too late" bundles two different causes into one reported category
2
causes, one rejection category
1. Mailed on time, but not postmarked that day — dropping it at the post office no longer guarantees a same-day postmark.
2. Mailed late. Both get lumped into the same rejection category.
What We Don't Know For Sure
Beat The Postmark Problem
✓
Get It Postmarked On Time
Easiest of all: mail your ballot at least two weeks early to give it plenty of time
Cutting it close? Use an official ballot drop box on Election Day
Or walk it inside the post office before it closes (5:00 PM) to get it postmarked that day
After the post office closes, you're too late — dropping it off doesn't guarantee that day's postmark.
Was One Of The Rejected Ballots Yours?
Don't let it happen again. Be prepared. Be aware.
El Dorado County · Every Vote Matters
Even Congressional Races Can Be Won By A Handful Of Votes – e.g. CA-13 by 187 votes in 2024
2026
857
Mail ballots rejected in El Dorado County's June primary — 857 voices that went uncounted.
Elections can be decided by margins this small. Your ballot counts.
Plan Ahead. Sign Consistently. Make Your Vote Count!