Vote
Voting has never been more important. Or more tiring and exhausting to keep up with. Check out our resources on how to make your voice heard by our elected government.
Your Vote Is Your Voice
(Updated for 2026.)
Voting fatigue is real. Between presidential elections, midterms, primaries, special elections, local races, ballot measures, and school board seats, it can feel like we're always being asked to research something new while also managing work, family, bills, and everything else life throws at us.
But here's the truth that keeps us showing up anyway: local elections are decided by dozens of votes, not millions.
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A city council race in Chico can swing on 50 ballots.
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A school board seat can be won or lost by a single precinct.
Your vote — and the votes of your neighbors — carries real, measurable weight at the local level in a way that can feel impossible to see in a presidential race.
We put together this page to help you cut through the noise, understand what's actually on your ballot, know what to look for when evaluating candidates and measures, and make sure your vote counts.
We’re all navigating this crazy space together, so we’ll try to help provide resources as we come across them.
Make Sure You're Ready to Vote
Before anything else, confirm the fundamentals.
Am I registered to vote?
Check your registration status at any time: voterstatus.sos.ca.gov
If you're not registered, or if you've moved since you last voted, you can register or update your registration at: registertovote.ca.gov
California allows same-day voter registration at your polling place, but registering in advance makes everything easier.
How do I vote in California?
California automatically mails a ballot to every registered voter before each election. You have three options:
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Mail your ballot back: use the prepaid return envelope included with your ballot. Mail it at least a week before Election Day to be safe, or drop it in an official ballot drop box by 8pm on Election Day.
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Drop it off: drop your completed ballot at any official drop box or voting location in Butte County by 8pm on Election Day. You do not have to use the drop box in your specific precinct.
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Vote in person: bring your ballot to any vote center in Butte County during the voting period, or vote on a machine at the vote center if you prefer.
Vote centers in Butte County open 10 days before Election Day for early in-person voting. As of April, 2026, you do not have to vote at a specific location and can turn in your ballot at any vote center in the county.
Where do I find my ballot drop boxes and vote centers?
Find locations, hours, and your sample ballot at: buttevotes.net
For statewide information: sos.ca.gov/elections
What if I need help voting?
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If you need a ballot in a language other than English, contact the Butte County Elections Office at (530) 538-7761
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If you need accessible voting equipment or assistance at a vote center, call ahead and vote center staff will assist you
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If you have a disability or illness and cannot come to a vote center, you can request an emergency ballot or assistance — call (530) 538-7761
Voter Resources
Register or check your registration:
Find your sample ballot, drop boxes, and vote centers
California Voter Guide (state measures and statewide races)
Campaign finance lookup (who funds candidates and measures)
League of Women Voters of Butte County (nonpartisan local voter guide)
CA-01 Special Election information
sos.ca.gov/elections/upcoming-elections/2026-cd1
Butte County Elections Office
Phone: (800) 894-7761
Know What's on Your Ballot Before You Vote
California voters face a lot of choices on a typical ballot: federal races, state offices, state legislative seats, local offices, state ballot measures, and local ballot measures. It can feel overwhelming. Let’s try to break it down.
Get your sample ballot early.
Your sample ballot is mailed to you before each election and is also available online. Log in to your voter profile at buttevotes.net to see exactly what will be on your ballot based on your address. This is important because ballots vary by precinct — your ballot may include measures and races that your neighbor one street over doesn't have, and vice versa.
Research before you fill it out.
Once you have your sample ballot, look up each candidate and measure. We've listed specific things to look for below. Taking notes on a printed copy of your sample ballot and then transferring your choices to your official ballot is a method many experienced voters swear by.
Blank is okay… but informed is better.
You don't have to vote in every race on your ballot. It's perfectly legal to skip a race you don't know enough about. Skipping a race does not 'spoil' the rest of your ballot. Your votes in other races will still be counted normally. But an informed vote, even on an obscure local judgeship, is worth the research.
The single most effective thing you can do as a voter is open your sample ballot before Election Day and research every item on it, not the day before, but a week or two ahead. Discuss it with people you trust. Learn what you can about the items and people you’ll be voting for. Have an idea of what you’ll be dealing with before you get to the voting booth.
State and Local Ballot Measures
Learn more about Props 3, 40, 41, and 42
Learn more about Props 4, 5, and 39
Learn more about Props 1, 2, 37, 38, 43, 44, and 45
Frequently asked questions
A Word on Voting Fatigue
We want to acknowledge something directly: the pace of elections and political demands right now is genuinely exhausting. It's okay to feel worn out. It's okay to not have an opinion on every race and every measure. It's okay to skip a race you don't know enough about rather than guess.
What we'd ask is this: don't let exhaustion become disengagement. The people and organizations that want you to stop paying attention are counting on exactly that. Fatigue is a strategy used against engaged citizens and the best counter to it is not forcing yourself to care about everything, but choosing a few things to care about deeply and doing that well.
Vote your local races with care. Vote in every primary, not just general elections. Bring one person with you to the polls or remind one person to mail their ballot.
That's enough. That matters. And we'll be here to help you do it.