California Online Voter Guide

California Gubernatorial Recall Election

September 14, 2021
(30th edition)

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About This Election

California voters are being asked if they want to remove (recall) or keep Gov. Gavin Newsom as Governor due to a successful effort to collect enough signatures to qualify this question for the ballot.

If a majority of voters who cast ballots in this election vote "no" on the recall, Gov. Newsom will remain Governor of California. If a majority of voters vote "yes" on the recall, the replacement candidate on the recall ballot who receives the greatest number of votes will replace Gov. Newsom and become California's new governor. 

Voters have two choices to make on the ballot: 1) whether to recall Gov. Newsom and 2) if a majority of voters vote "yes", which candidate should replace the governor? Voters who vote "no" on the recall can still vote on which candidate should replace the governor if the recall is successful. Voters who want to leave this choice blank will still have their vote on the recall question counted. 

In some counties the recall ballot includes additional local contests - check your County Voter Information Guide for more information about these contests.

Important Dates

  • August 16:   Vote-by-mail ballots start being mailed out to all registered voters; first day of early voting
  • August 30:  Voter registration deadline
  • September 1-14:  Conditional, "same day" voter registration available at all voting sites and county election offices
  • September 4:  11-day vote centers open in some counties
  • September 11:  4-day vote centers open in some counties
  • September 7:  Last day to update or change how you want to receive your ballot
  • September 14:  Election Day - polling places and vote centers are open statewide 7am - 8pm

Resources
 

From The California Voter Foundation:

CVF Vote by Mail tips
 

From the Fair Political Practices Commission:

From Maplight & the League of Women Voters:

  • Voters Edge - comprehensive nonpartisan election information 

From the Secretary of State:

Campaigns for and against the recall:

CVF recommends these additional nonpartisan voter resources:


Archived editions of CVF's California Online Voter Guide:

In-Person Voting Methods

(Click Image to Expand)

Voter's Edge