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HomeHarbors and Navigation CodeDiv. 8General ProvisionsCh. 1Art. 3§ 5866 Polling Hours And Closure

§ 5866 Polling Hours And Closure

Harbors and Navigation Code·California
AI Summary·Official Text·Key Terms·Related Statutes·References
AI SummaryVerified

§ 5866 Polling Hours And Closure

This law says polling places must be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on election day, and anyone still waiting in line at 8 p.m. can still vote.

Key Takeaways

  • •Polling places open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. on election day.
  • •The same day’s polls stay open the whole time; they don’t close early.
  • •Anyone who is still in line at 8 p.m. is allowed to vote after that time.

Example

Maria gets to the voting site at 7:55 p.m., but the line is long and she hasn't voted by 8 p.m.

Because the law lets anyone still in line after 8 p.m. vote, Maria can go inside and cast her ballot even though the official closing time has passed.

AI-generated — May contain errors. Not legal advice. Always verify source.

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 5866 Polling Hours And Closure

On the day of the election the polls at each of the polling places designated by the board of supervisors shall be opened at the hour of seven o’clock a.m. and shall be kept opened until the hour of eight o’clock p.m. of the same day, when the polls shall be closed. Any elector within the polling place or standing in line thereat who has not had an opportunity to vote and desires to vote shall be permitted to vote after the hour of eight o’clock p.m. of the day of election. (Amended by Stats. 2002, Ch. 221, Sec. 52. Effective January 1, 2003.)

Last verified: January 11, 2026

Key Terms

pollselection dayseven o’clock a.m.eight o’clock p.m.electorpolling place

Related Statutes

  • § 5867 Poll Closure Ballot Handling
  • § 6038 Polling Place Hours
  • § 1110 Bay Area Water Boundaries
  • § 1111 Pilot Commissioners Board Definition
  • § 1112 High Seas Definition

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Harbors and Navigation Code. Section 5866.
View Official Source