美国选举制度（六）：选民怎样投票：以加州2026年为例

【本章要点】

加州每一位有效登记选民都会自动收到邮寄选票，投与不投、怎么投，选择在选民

2026年关键日期（加州州务卿官网）：10月5日选票寄出、10月19日登记截止、10月24日投票中心扩大开放、11月3日选举日

错过登记截止不要紧：10月20日至11月3日可到县选务处或投票点办「有条件登记」当场投票

一、先确认资格与登记

在加州投票须同时满足：美国公民、年满18岁、加州居民，且当前不在州或联邦监狱服重罪刑期（刑满者可以登记）。登记渠道：在线 registertovote.ca.gov、邮寄表格，或到县选务处、车管局（DMV）等地办理。每次搬家、改名或想更改党派偏好，都应更新登记。查自己的登记状态与地址是否正确：voterstatus.sos.ca.gov——地址不对，是选票寄不到的最常见原因。

2026年大选的常规登记截止日是10月19日，本系列刊出时刚刚过去。错过也不要紧：加州有「同日登记」（正式名称为有条件选民登记）——10月20日至11月3日，本人前往县选务处、投票中心或指定投票地点，现场登记并投下一张临时选票，选务人员核实资格、确认没有重复投票后即计入。

二、加州2026年关键日期（据加州州务卿官网）

9月24日至10月13日：州与县的官方选民信息指南陆续寄到各家——指南里有候选人介绍、提案全文与分析，应当先读。

10月5日：各县开始向全体登记选民邮寄选票；提前投票点同步开放；官方选票投递点开放交回选票。

10月19日：常规登记截止日。

10月20日至11月3日：有条件登记期间，可到县选务处与投票地点现场登记并投票。

10月24日：《选民选择法》实施县的投票中心开放（包括洛杉矶县、橙县、河滨县等南加多县），此后每天可前往任一投票中心投票，不再受本选区限制。

11月3日：选举日，全州投票时间为上午7时至晚8时；晚8时仍在排队者有权投完。亲自交回的选票须在晚8时前送达任一投票点或投递箱；邮寄的选票须以11月3日或之前的邮戳寄出、且在11月10日前送达县选务处，方才有效。

三、三种投票方式

邮寄投票：加州向每一位有效登记选民邮寄选票。填好、封入官方信封、签名，免邮费寄回，或投入官方投递箱。注意信封签名须与登记档案一致，签名不符或漏签时，县里会通知选民补正。用「Where's My Ballot」服务可追踪选票的寄出、收回与计入状态。

投票中心现场投票：在《选民选择法》各县，选民可到全县任一投票中心，提前多日或选举日当天现场投票，中心还提供补发选票、同日登记与多语言协助。未采用该法的县则按传统选区投票站运作，选民须到指定站点。

选举日现场投票：11月3日上午7时至晚8时。多数选民无须出示带照片证件；首次投票且以邮寄方式登记、未提供证件号码的选民，可能被要求出示证件——稳妥起见可随身携带一份身份证明或地址证明。

四、无党派选民的选票

登记为「无党派偏好」（No Party Preference）的选民，在11月大选中收到的选票与所有人完全相同：大选没有党派之分，每个职位、每项提案都能投。「需要申请某党选票」的规则只发生在总统初选年，与大选无关（见第五章）。

语言协助方面，联邦《选举权法》第203条要求选民结构达到门槛的县提供少数语言选票与材料：洛杉矶县提供包括中文在内的多语种正式选票与样本选票，圣迭戈、橙县等县提供中文样本选票与口译协助。选民还可以带一名自己信任的人进入投票间协助（雇主与工会代表除外）。华人选民若在投票点遇到问题，可拨打州务卿选民热线（设有中文服务）或向现场工作人员要求协助——要求语言协助是法定权利。

（上一章：初选与提名；下一章：计票、认证与华人参政。）

关联：美国选举制度（五）：初选与提名：候选人是怎样产生的

关联：美国选举制度（七）：计票、认证与华人参政

America's Electoral System (6): How Voters Cast Ballots: California in 2026 as an Example

[Key points]

Every active registered voter in California is mailed a ballot automatically; the choices are whether and how to return it

Key 2026 dates (California Secretary of State): ballots mailed October 5, registration deadline October 19, vote centers expand October 24, Election Day November 3

Missed the deadline? Conditional ('same-day') registration lets you register and vote at a county office or vote center through November 3

1. Eligibility and registration

To vote in California you must be a U.S. citizen, 18 or older, a California resident, and not currently serving a state or federal prison term for a felony (rights are restored on release). Register online at registertovote.ca.gov, by mail, or in person at a county elections office or the DMV. Update your registration whenever you move, change your name, or want a different party preference. Check your status and address at voterstatus.sos.ca.gov - a stale address is the most common reason a ballot never arrives.

The regular registration deadline for the 2026 general election was October 19, just passed as this series appears. Missing it is not the end: California offers conditional voter registration - 'same-day registration' - from October 20 through November 3. Appear at your county elections office, a vote center or another designated location, register on the spot and cast a provisional ballot; once officials verify eligibility and that you have not already voted, it is counted.

2. California's key dates for 2026 (Secretary of State)

September 24 - October 13: state and county voter information guides are mailed - candidates' statements, the text and analysis of ballot measures. Read yours before voting.

October 5: counties begin mailing ballots to every registered voter; early voting sites open; official ballot drop-off locations open.

October 19: last day of regular registration.

October 20 - November 3: conditional registration in person at county elections offices and voting locations.

October 24: vote centers open across Voter's Choice Act counties (in Southern California these include Los Angeles, Orange and Riverside), letting any voter in the county use any vote center.

November 3: Election Day; polls are open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., and anyone in line at 8 p.m. may still vote. Ballots returned in person must arrive by 8 p.m.; mailed ballots count if postmarked by November 3 and received by the county by November 10.

3. Three ways to cast the ballot

By mail: fill in the ballot, seal it in the official envelope, sign the envelope - the signature must match your registration record; if it is missing or does not match, the county will contact you with a chance to cure it - and return it postage-free by mail or at an official drop box. The 'Where's My Ballot' service tracks your ballot's mailing, receipt and counting.

At a vote center: in Voter's Choice Act counties, any county voter can use any vote center for days before and including Election Day, with replacement ballots, same-day registration and language assistance on site. Counties outside the Act use traditional precinct polling places, where you vote at your assigned location.

On Election Day in person: polls run 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Most voters are not asked for photo ID; first-time voters who registered by mail without providing ID numbers may be asked for identification, so carrying ID or proof of address is prudent.

4. No-party-preference voters, and language assistance

A voter registered as No Party Preference receives exactly the same November ballot as everyone else: the general election has no party columns, and every office and measure is open to every voter. Party-ballot rules apply only in presidential primary years (Chapter Five).

Under Section 203 of the federal Voting Rights Act, counties meeting demographic thresholds must provide minority-language ballots and materials. Los Angeles County provides full ballots and sample ballots in Chinese among other languages; San Diego and Orange counties provide Chinese sample ballots and interpreter assistance. Any voter may also bring a person they trust into the voting booth to assist (employers and union representatives excepted). Asking for language help - at the site or through the Secretary of State's voter hotline, which offers Chinese-language service - is a legal right, not a favor.

(Previous: primaries and nominations. Next: counting, certification, and Chinese-American civic participation.)

Related: America's Electoral System (5): Primaries and Nominations: How Candidates Are Chosen

Related: America's Electoral System (7): Counting, Certification, and a Path into Public Office

来源：GSM·美国（原文链接）

图片来源：图：加州Mendocino县的官方选票投递箱，选民可在此交回邮寄选票。Sarah Stierch 摄／Wikimedia Commons（CC BY 4.0）

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