Right now, voting activities vary by location, but here are the general patterns you might be seeing or hearing about as of November 2025:
- In the United States, many states run both federal and local elections on a staggered schedule. Even-numbered years typically feature federal and some state or local races, while odd-numbered years focus on state and local contests, ballot measures, and sometimes special elections.
- If you’re in California, a statewide special election was held on November 4, 2025, with ballots mailed to voters and vote centers open for in-person voting. Ballots could be returned by mail, at drop-off locations, or at counties’ elections offices, with postmark deadlines around Election Day [California SOS election pages for 2025 details]. If you’re in another state, the exact timing and format (mail-in ballots, early voting, or in-person only) will be governed by that state’s laws and the election calendar.
- In many states, there are ongoing early voting periods or vote-by-mail processes leading up to Election Day, plus security and verification steps to ensure ballots are valid and counted.
- Some jurisdictions are dealing with redistricting or ballot measures that impact how elections are conducted, including adjustments to voting locations, registration deadlines, and eligibility rules.
How to know what’s happening where you are:
- Check your state or local election official’s website for the most accurate, up-to-date information on:
- What elections are on the ballot (federal, state, local, or special elections)
- Registration deadlines and how to register (including same-day registration if available)
- How to vote (in-person, early voting, mail-in, or ballot drop-off options)
- Ballot drop-off locations, mailing deadlines, and postmark rules
- Voting center hours and locations
If you share your country or state/district, I can give you a concise overview of the current voting activities and how to participate.
