CA Recall: Vote By Mail Registration Closes Monday Night

CALIFORNIA — Californians still hoping to receive a vote-by-mail gubernatorial recall ballot must register by 11:59 p.m. Monday evening.

Most Golden Staters already received their absentee ballots in the mail this month ahead of the Sept. 14 election that will decide Gov. Gavin Newsom's fate.

To register to vote or update your information, visit RegisterToVote.ca.gov. Those who miss the deadline will still be able to register and vote in person during early voting or on Election Day. Those who register next month will be given a provisional ballot, which must be verified before it's counted by election officials.

Every registered voter received a recall election ballot this month, and there are ballot drop boxes throughout each of California's 58 counties in which to deposit them.

Those who would like to vote in person or sign up for same-day voter registration can search on their county website for polling locations. Accessible voting locations are open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 11 to Sept. 13 and from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day.

In two weeks, Californians will cast their final votes to decide whether the first-term Democratic governor will remain in office or be replaced by another candidate.

On the recall ballot, voters will be asked whether Newsom should be recalled and who should replace him. If more than 50 percent of voters cast a ballot to recall Newsom, the replacement candidate with the largest share of votes will win the governor's seat.

As the election date draws near, most voters will likely be looking at a race between Newsom and GOP top contender Larry Elder, a conservative talk show host.

Elder has gained significant traction since he entered the race. Recently, he's risen in recent election polls and energized Republican voters, despite allegations of abusive behavior toward an ex-fiancee and an investigation into whether he financially misrepresented his income with the state.

His rapid ascent could prove to be a bigger threat to Newsom than polls previously predicted. Elder has promised to reverse California's strict vaccination, testing and masking rules. He has also said that he's critical of gun control, opposes the minimum wage and disputes the notion of systemic racism in America.

If elected, Elder would become the most populous state's first Black governor.

"Young families are leaving; the taxes are going up on gasoline, and this governor is either incompetent or indifferent," Elder has said. "He’s got to go."

Newsom has pushed back against the effort to unseat him, arguing that the campaign was one backed by extremists, supporters of former President Donald Trump and those against the coronavirus vaccines.

"This is — and forgive me — a Republican-backed recall where the principal proponent of the recall effort wants to microchip immigrants," Newsom has said. "These folks don't believe in science let alone climate science, and they don't believe in the science behind this pandemic. There's a lot at stake for Californians in this race."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

READ MORE: CA Recall Voter Guide: Who's In And What To Expect

What Is A Recall?

California has had recall elections as part of its political system since 1911. The process allowed the public to attempt to remove an elected public official from office before the end of his or her term. Before a recall election can be initiated, a certain number of voters must sign a recall petition within a specified amount of time.

Read more about California's gubernatorial recall election:

• Recall Candidate Doug Ose Exits Recall Race After Heart Attack
• Larry Elder Faces Claims Of Abuse, Financial Misrepresentation
• CA Recall: Newsom Lambasts Elder On Campaign Trail
• Lawsuit Argues California Recall Is Unconstitutional
• California Republicans Skip Recall Candidate Endorsement
• CA Recall Election: Who Is Running?
• Newsom Recall Election Officially Happening: What To Know
• A Serious Man: Can Kevin Faulconer Run For Governor Without The Gimmicks?
• Follow The Money: Gavin Newsom Recall Edition
• Total Recall: An Illustrated Guide To The Newsom Recall