
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 Mountain View Voice’s 2026 Voter Guide, including in-depth profiles, issue comparison grids and campaign finance coverage.
View the Voter Guide ➔Keep election coverage free for everyone
Our election reporting is available to every reader, with no paywall. Your donation helps provide the independent local coverage voters need to make informed decisions.
Latest Election Coverage
Housing, RVs and Trump take center stage at Mountain View City Council candidate forum
Ahead of the November election, Mountain View’s City Council candidates squared off at a political forum Thursday evening, giving their perspectives on hot-button issues.
Voice to co-host Mountain View City Council candidate forum Thursday
The Mountain View Voice and League of Women Voters of the Los Altos-Mountain View Area are jointly hosting a Mountain View City Council candidate forum at 7 p.m. Oct. 8.
Measure Guide: What to know about El Camino Healthcare’s Measure S
The El Camino Healthcare District, a public agency that oversees El Camino Hospital, has put a measure on the November ballot seeking to establish term limits for its five-member board of directors.
Santa Clara County residents urged to mail back ballots early
Residents across Santa Clara County are receiving their mail-in ballots ahead of the Nov. 3 election, and local election officials are urging them to vote early.
Candidate Comparison Grids: Los Altos School District Board of Trustees
To help voters compare and differentiate between the people running for the Los Altos School District Board of Trustees, the Voice sent a questionnaire to all the candidates, asking about their policy positions and priorities across a wide range of issues. Check out their side-by-side responses.
Measure Guide: What to know about Mountain View’s Measure F hotel tax
Looking to bolster the city’s coffers, Mountain View is asking voters this November to pass a ballot measure that would increase taxes on local hotels.
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 Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters office, 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: Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters office opens for voting on weekends, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Vote centers open across the county, including the Church of Scientology Silicon Valley, 1066 Linda Vista Ave., Mountain View.
- Oct. 27: Last day to request a vote-by-mail ballot replacement by mail.
- Oct. 31: Additional vote centers open, including the Mountain View Community Center, 201 S. Rengstorff Ave., and St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church, 2094 Grant Road.
- Nov. 3: Election Day. Polls are open 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.

