California Secretary of State Shirley N. Weber today clarified information about the Nov. 4, 2025, Statewide Special Election ballot envelopes.
“We have been seeing a great deal of misinformation about the Nov. 4, 2025, Statewide Special Election ballot envelopes, and I want to set the record straight,” Weber said.
“The small holes on ballot envelopes are an accessibility feature to allow sight-impaired voters to orient themselves to where they are required to sign the envelope,” she said.
There are numerous ways to insert a ballot card into the return envelope, Weber said. If a voter is concerned, they can insert their ballot in a manner where any markings are obscured, she said.
The Office of the Secretary of State does not print ballot envelopes or review/approve them, Weber said.
“The office does encourage counties to utilize the Center for Civic Design’s ballot design resources, and we have their guidance posted on our website at https://elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov/vote-by-mail/pdf/guidance.pdf.,” officials said.
For more specific information about ballot printing, visit https://www.sos.ca.gov/administration/regulations/current-regulations/elections/ballot-printing.
“Anyone who has questions about their ballot or vote-by-mail envelope should go to a trusted source such as my office, which has voter hotlines in various languages https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voting-resources/voting-california/voter-hotlines, or their county elections office https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voting-resources/county-elections-offices,” Weber said.
Voters have options on how to return their ballot. Voters can:
• Drop off ballot at a secure designated drop box, polling location, vote center, or county elections office.
• Mail in ballot. Ballots must be post-marked on or before Election Day. If mailing your vote-by-mail ballot, it is recommended that you mail your ballot early.
In some locations, mail may not be postmarked by USPS until the following day; it is recommended to get a manual postmark from a postal employee inside your local U.S. Post Office if mailing your ballot on Election Day.
Voters also have the option to vote in person.
For more about voting options, visit https://caearlyvoting.sos.ca.gov/.
California voters can register to vote or update their voter registration online at registertovote.ca.gov.
Voters who are unsure of their voter registration status can quickly check it online at voterstatus.sos.ca.gov.
Upcoming California key deadlines and dates for the Nov. 4, 2025, Statewide Special Election can be found at https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/upcoming-elections/statewide-special-nov-4-2025/key-dates-and-deadlines.
• The last day to register to vote online is Oct. 20, 2025.
• Same day (conditional) registration will be available Oct. 21-Nov. 4, 2025 https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voter-registration/same-day-reg.
• Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2025.
The complete California Election Calendar for the Nov. 4, 2025, Statewide Special Election can be found at https://elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov/statewide-elections/2025-special/statewide-special-election-calendar.pdf.