September 2, 1863

General Election

Note: A total of 109,292 Californians voted in this election. 

"California's first absentee voters were Civil War soldiers who were allowed to vote where they were stationed. Ballots of Company A, Second Massachusetts Cavalry - The California One Hundred - were cast in Centreville, Virginia, in 1863 then mailed back to the Secretary of State in California."
"Some soldiers supplied unique write-in candidates of their own. One voter put forth Emperor Norton I, a colorful character of the time, as candidate for Governor."
- Source: 1990 Primary Election Statement of Vote (CA Secretary of State)
LINK: California State Military Museum: The California 100
LINK: California Civil War Rosters: The California Hundred (A list of members of the California 100)