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California state legislative top-two primaries, 2018
- General election: Nov. 6
- Voter registration deadline: Oct. 22
- Early voting: Oct. 8 - Nov. 5
- Absentee voting deadline: Postmark Nov. 6
- Online registration: Yes
- Same-day registration: Yes
- Voter ID: No
- Poll times: 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
2018 California State Legislature elections | |
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General | November 6, 2018 |
Primary | June 5, 2018 |
2018 elections | |
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Choose a chamber below: | |
Both parties grappled with sexual misconduct allegations and ideological purity conflicts in California's top-two state legislative primaries.
The October 2017 Harvey Weinstein sexual harassment scandal prompted women and men in the California State Legislature to come forward with similar allegations against state legislators. Crowded primary fields emerged in the races to replace three Democratic members who resigned over allegations. One of the resigning members—former state Sen. Tony Mendoza—said he was forced out and sought to reclaim his seat. He did not make the general election.
Other members who were accused of misconduct but did not resign faced competitive challenges. This included Asw. Cristina Garcia (D), who was a national leader in the #MeToo movement before former staffers came forward with harassment allegations against her.[1] She finished first in her primary and made the general election.
State legislative leaders faced challengers for breaking away from party activists on key issues. Speaker Anthony Rendon (D) was challenged by progressive activists angry at him for blocking a single-payer healthcare bill from being considered.[2] He made the general election.
Former Republican Assembly Leader Chad Mayes saw a similar challenge from his right due to his support for Democrat-backed cap-and-trade legislation in August 2017. Opposition within his caucus to Mayes's position on cap-and-trade led him to resign his leadership position and, later, start the organization New Way California to promote moderate Republican policies.[3] He made the general election.
State Asm. Devon Mathis (R) was at the center of both issues. He was one of the few Republicans to follow Mayes and vote for the cap-and-trade legislation, and he faced sexual misconduct allegations that he denied.[3] He made the general election.
See the battleground primaries below.
The top-two primary elections for the seats in the California State Senate and California State Assembly were on June 5, 2018. A top-two primary is a type of primary election in which all candidates are listed on the same primary ballot. The top two vote-getters, regardless of their partisan affiliations, advance to the general election. Consequently, it is possible for two candidates belonging to the same political party to win in a top-two primary and face off in the general election.[4][5]
The general election was on November 6, 2018. The candidate filing deadline was March 9, 2018. In the state Senate, 20 of 40 seats were up for election. In the state Assembly, all 80 seats were up for election.
As of May 2018, California was one of eight Democratic trifectas. A state government trifecta is a term used to describe a single-party government where one political party holds the governor's office and a majority in both chambers of the state legislature. To find out more about state government trifectas, click here.
Battleground races
Ballotpedia identified battleground races in the 2018 California state legislative primary elections. These primaries had the potential to be more competitive than other races and could have led to changes in the memberships of the Democratic or Republican caucuses or had an impact on general election races.
To determine the California state legislative primary battleground races in 2018, Ballotpedia examined races that fit one or more of the three factors listed below:
- Identified by the media as a notable primary election.
- One or more of the candidates received a notable endorsement.
- The primary was known to be competitive based on past results or because it was a rematch of a primary that was competitive in the past.
Assembly Battlegrounds
This map shows the 2018 California State Assembly battleground primaries.
Assembly District 15
Did the incumbent file to run for re-election?
No |
What made this a battleground race?
On November 25, 2017, the Los Angeles Times reported on some of the Democratic candidates who planned to run for the District 15 seat after incumbent Tony Thurmond (D) announced he would seek election as state superintendent of public instruction in 2018. The Times highlighted Buffy Wicks, Oakland City Councilman Dan Kalb, and Richmond City Councilwoman Jovanka Beckles. Wicks, a former aide to President Barack Obama (D) and campaign staffer for Hillary Clinton (D), received the endorsements of Lieutenant Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) and U.S. Senator Kamala Harris (D). She received campaign donations from Obama advisor David Axelrod, Democratic donor Laurene Powell Jobs, and former U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D). According to the Times, the Kalb and Beckles campaigns emphasized their community ties and the fact that Wicks moved to the district in 2016. Beckles said, "Folks are aware and awake to the fact of who has been in the community and who has been doing the work. To move here and expect people to support you is insulting."[6] |
California State Assembly, District 15 Top-Two Primary, 2018 | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
Democratic | ![]() |
31.37% | 37,141 | |
Democratic | ![]() |
15.82% | 18,733 | |
Democratic | Dan Kalb | 15.21% | 18,007 | |
Democratic | Judith Appel | 11.48% | 13,591 | |
Democratic | Rochelle Pardue-Okimoto | 8.30% | 9,826 | |
Republican | Pranav Jandhyala | 5.87% | 6,946 | |
Democratic | Andy Katz | 5.24% | 6,209 | |
Democratic | Ben Bartlett | 3.34% | 3,949 | |
Democratic | Cheryl Sudduth | 1.26% | 1,493 | |
Democratic | Raquella Thaman | 0.85% | 1,007 | |
Democratic | Owen Poindexter | 0.69% | 819 | |
Democratic | Sergey Vikramsingh Piterman | 0.58% | 689 | |
Total Votes | 118,410 | |||
Source: California Secretary of State, "2018 Statement of Vote," accessed July 16, 2018 |
Assembly District 26
Did the incumbent file to run for re-election?
Yes |
What made this a battleground race?
Assemblyman Devon Mathis (R) faced two Republican challengers after voting for Democrat-backed cap-and-trade legislation and being accused of sexual misconduct.[3] |
California State Assembly, District 26 Top-Two Primary, 2018 | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
Republican | ![]() |
30.29% | 19,081 | |
Democratic | ![]() |
29.83% | 18,794 | |
Republican | Warren Gubler | 28.02% | 17,650 | |
Republican | Jack Lavers | 11.86% | 7,473 | |
Total Votes | 62,998 | |||
Source: California Secretary of State, "2018 Statement of Vote," accessed July 16, 2018 |
Assembly District 39
Did the incumbent file to run for re-election?
No |
What made this a battleground race?
Five Democrats and one Republican filed for the seat previously held by state Asm. Raul Bocanegra (D), who resigned in November 2017 after being accused of sexual harassment. A special election to fill the rest of Bocanegra's term was held the same day. |
California State Assembly, District 39 Top-Two Primary, 2018 | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
Democratic | ![]() |
43.91% | 20,453 | |
Republican | ![]() |
25.07% | 11,679 | |
Democratic | Patty Lopez | 14.56% | 6,783 | |
Democratic | Antonio Sanchez | 10.10% | 4,705 | |
Democratic | Patrea Patrick | 3.74% | 1,740 | |
Democratic | Bonnie Corwin | 2.62% | 1,220 | |
Total Votes | 46,580 | |||
Source: California Secretary of State, "2018 Statement of Vote," accessed July 16, 2018 |
Assembly District 42
Did the incumbent file to run for re-election?
Yes |
What made this a battleground race?
Former Assembly Republican Leader Chad Mayes faced two Republican challengers. Mayes was ousted as the GOP leader in August 2017 for supporting Democrat-backed cap-and-trade legislation. Afterward, he started New Way California, a moderate Republican organization supported by former California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) and Ohio Gov. John Kasich (R).[7] |
California State Assembly, District 42 Top-Two Primary, 2018 | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
Democratic | ![]() |
35.64% | 33,586 | |
Republican | ![]() |
32.77% | 30,880 | |
Republican | Gary Jeandron | 15.95% | 15,032 | |
Republican | Andrew Kotyuk | 12.28% | 11,572 | |
Green | Carol Bouldin | 3.36% | 3,166 | |
Total Votes | 94,236 | |||
Source: California Secretary of State, "2018 Statement of Vote," accessed July 16, 2018 |
Assembly District 45
Did the incumbent file to run for re-election?
No |
What made this a battleground race?
Six Democrats and one Republican filed for the seat previously held by state Asm. Matt Dababneh (D), who resigned in January 2018 after being accused of sexual harassment. A special election to fill the rest of Dababneh's term was held the same day. |
California State Assembly, District 45 Top-Two Primary, 2018 | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
Democratic | ![]() |
43.67% | 31,068 | |
Republican | ![]() |
31.92% | 22,709 | |
Democratic | Tricia Robbins Kasson | 7.42% | 5,277 | |
Democratic | Ankur Patel | 6.37% | 4,534 | |
Democratic | Jeff Bornstein | 5.68% | 4,039 | |
Democratic | Daniel Brin | 3.42% | 2,432 | |
Democratic | Raymond Bishop | 1.53% | 1,088 | |
Total Votes | 71,147 | |||
Source: California Secretary of State, "2018 Statement of Vote," accessed July 16, 2018 |
Assembly District 58
Did the incumbent file to run for re-election?
Yes |
What made this a battleground race?
Assemblywoman Cristina Garcia (D) was a national leader in the #MeToo movement before former staffers began to accuse her of sexual harassment.[1] She faced six Democratic challengers and a negative ad campaign paid for by the State Building and Construction Trades Council.[8] |
California State Assembly, District 58 Top-Two Primary, 2018 | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
Democratic | ![]() |
28.89% | 14,509 | |
Republican | ![]() |
26.38% | 13,246 | |
Democratic | Pedro Aceituno | 12.72% | 6,386 | |
Democratic | Karla Salazar | 9.17% | 4,603 | |
Democratic | Friné Medrano | 8.85% | 4,447 | |
Democratic | Ivan Altamirano | 7.58% | 3,809 | |
Democratic | John Paul Drayer | 3.29% | 1,653 | |
Democratic | Miguel Angel Alvarado | 3.12% | 1,568 | |
Total Votes | 50,221 | |||
Source: California Secretary of State, "2018 Statement of Vote," accessed July 16, 2018 |
Assembly District 63
Did the incumbent file to run for re-election?
Yes |
What made this a battleground race?
Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon (D) faced a recall campaign in 2017 for not considering a single-payer health care bill passed by the state Senate. The recall did not make the ballot, but Maria Estrada, a single-payer supporter, ran against him in the primary.[2] |
California State Assembly, District 63 Top-Two Primary, 2018 | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
Democratic | ![]() |
46.61% | 18,047 | |
Democratic | ![]() |
29.06% | 11,252 | |
Republican | Adam J. Miller | 24.33% | 9,419 | |
Total Votes | 38,718 | |||
Source: California Secretary of State, "2018 Statement of Vote," accessed July 16, 2018 |
Assembly District 76
Did the incumbent file to run for re-election?
No |
What made this a battleground race?
Six Republicans and two Democrats filed to replace Assemblyman Rocky Chavez (R), a cap-and-trade supporter who ran for the 49th Congressional District. If the six Republicans split the vote too evenly, the two Democrats could advance to the general election. |
California State Assembly, District 76 Top-Two Primary, 2018 | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
Democratic | ![]() |
26.22% | 28,755 | |
Democratic | ![]() |
25.14% | 27,566 | |
Republican | Philip Graham | 21.11% | 23,155 | |
Republican | Maureen "Mo" Muir | 8.79% | 9,642 | |
Republican | Thomas Krouse | 7.91% | 8,675 | |
Republican | Amanda Rigby | 5.40% | 5,919 | |
Republican | Jerome Stocks | 4.67% | 5,119 | |
Republican | Brian Wimmer | 0.77% | 840 | |
Total Votes | 109,671 | |||
Source: California Secretary of State, "2018 Statement of Vote," accessed July 16, 2018 |
Senate Battlegrounds
This map shows the 2018 California State Senate battleground primaries.
Senate District 32
Did the incumbent file to run for re-election?
No |
What made this a battleground race?
Eight Democrats and two Republicans filed for the seat previously held by state Sen. Tony Mendoza (D), who resigned in early 2018 after being accused of sexual harassment. Mendoza filed for his old seat. He said Senate President Pro Tempore Kevin de Leon (D) forced him to resign. A special primary election to fill the rest of Mendoza's term was held the same day. Mendoza also filed to run in the special election. |
California State Senate, District 32 Top-Two Primary, 2018 | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
Republican | ![]() |
24.37% | 28,979 | |
Democratic | ![]() |
17.37% | 20,652 | |
Democratic | Vanessa Delgado | 15.73% | 18,709 | |
Democratic | Tony Mendoza | 10.02% | 11,917 | |
Republican | Ion Sarega | 9.74% | 11,577 | |
Democratic | Vicky Santana | 6.93% | 8,236 | |
Democratic | Ali Taj | 5.34% | 6,349 | |
Democratic | Vivian Romero | 4.62% | 5,495 | |
Democratic | Rudy Bermudez | 4.59% | 5,455 | |
Democratic | David Castellanos | 1.30% | 1,541 | |
Total Votes | 118,910 | |||
Source: California Secretary of State, "2018 Statement of Vote," accessed July 17, 2018 |
Incumbents who did not advance to the general election
Retiring incumbents
Four Democratic and three Republican state Assembly incumbents did not seek re-election in 2018:
Democrats
- Tony Thurmond (District 15)
- Anna Caballero (District 30)
- Raul Bocanegra (District 39)
- Matt Dababneh (District 45)
Republicans
- Marc Steinorth (District 40)
- Travis Allen (District 72)
- Rocky Chavez (District 76)
Two Democratic and four Republican state Senate incumbents did not seek re-election in 2018:
Democrats
- Edward Hernandez (District 22)
- Kevin de León (District 24)
Republicans
- Tom Berryhill (District 8)
- Anthony Cannella (District 12)
- Jean Fuller (District 16)
- Joel Anderson (District 38)
Competitiveness
There were 14 open seats in 2018, which was less than the 26 open seats in 2016 and the 33 open seats in 2014. The contested primaries was 50, up from 49 in 2016 and 46 in 2014. The 298 candidates running was up from 292 in 2016 and down from 303 in 2014.
Year | Total seats | Open seats | Total candidates | Primaries contested | Total contested | Incumbents contested in primaries | Total incumbents contested in primaries |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2018 | 100 | 14 | 298 | 50 | 50.0% | 37 | 43.0% |
2016 | 100 | 26 | 292 | 49 | 49.0% | 26 | 35.1% |
2014 | 100 | 33 | 303 | 46 | 46.0% | 43 | 64.2% |
Partisan control
The tables below show the partisan breakdowns of the California State Assembly and the California State Senate as of July 2018:
California State Assembly
Party | As of July 2018 | |
---|---|---|
Democratic Party | 55 | |
Republican Party | 25 | |
Vacancies | 0 | |
Total | 80 |
California State Senate
Party | As of July 2018 | |
---|---|---|
Democratic Party | 25 | |
Republican Party | 14 | |
Vacancies | 1 | |
Total | 40 |
State overview
Partisan control
This section details the partisan control of federal and state positions in California heading into the 2018 elections.
Congressional delegation
- Following the 2016 elections, Democrats held both U.S. Senate seats in California.
- Democrats held 39 of 53 U.S. House seats in California.
State executives
- As of May 2018, Democrats held seven of 10 state executive positions and the remaining three positions were officially nonpartisan.
- The governor of California was Democrat Jerry Brown.
State legislature
- Democrats controlled both chambers of the California State Legislature. They had a 55-25 majority in the state Assembly and a 27-13 majority in the state Senate.
Trifecta status
- California was a state government trifecta, meaning that Democrats held the governorship and majorities in the state house and state senate.
2018 elections
- See also: California elections, 2018
California held elections for the following positions in 2018:
- 1 Senate seat
- 53 U.S. House seats
- Governor
- Seven other state executive positions
- 20 of 40 state Senate seats
- 80 state Assembly seats
- Two state Supreme Court justices
- 35 state Court of Appeals judges
- Local trial court judges
- School board members
Demographics
Demographic data for California | ||
---|---|---|
California | U.S. | |
Total population: | 38,993,940 | 316,515,021 |
Land area (sq mi): | 155,779 | 3,531,905 |
Race and ethnicity** | ||
White: | 61.8% | 73.6% |
Black/African American: | 5.9% | 12.6% |
Asian: | 13.7% | 5.1% |
Native American: | 0.7% | 0.8% |
Pacific Islander: | 0.4% | 0.2% |
Two or more: | 4.5% | 3% |
Hispanic/Latino: | 38.4% | 17.1% |
Education | ||
High school graduation rate: | 81.8% | 86.7% |
College graduation rate: | 31.4% | 29.8% |
Income | ||
Median household income: | $61,818 | $53,889 |
Persons below poverty level: | 18.2% | 11.3% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, "American Community Survey" (5-year estimates 2010-2015) Click here for more information on the 2020 census and here for more on its impact on the redistricting process in California. **Note: Percentages for race and ethnicity may add up to more than 100 percent because respondents may report more than one race and the Hispanic/Latino ethnicity may be selected in conjunction with any race. Read more about race and ethnicity in the census here. |
As of July 2016, California had a population of approximately 39,000,000 people, with its three largest cities being Los Angeles (pop. est. 4.0 million), San Diego (pop. est. 1.4 million), and San Jose (pop. est. 1 million).[9][10]
State election history
This section provides an overview of federal and state elections in California from 2000 to 2016. All data comes from the California Secretary of State.
Historical elections
Presidential elections, 2000-2016
This chart shows the results of the presidential election in California every year from 2000 to 2016.
Election results (President of the United States), California 2000-2016 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | First-place candidate | First-place candidate votes (%) | Second-place candidate | Second-place candidate votes (%) | Margin of victory (%) |
2016 | ![]() |
61.7% | ![]() |
31.6% | 30.1% |
2012 | ![]() |
60.2% | ![]() |
37.1% | 23.1% |
2008 | ![]() |
61.1% | ![]() |
37% | 24.1% |
2004 | ![]() |
54.4% | ![]() |
44.4% | 10% |
2000 | ![]() |
53.5% | ![]() |
41.7% | 11.8% |
U.S. Senate elections, 2000-2016
This chart shows the results of U.S. Senate races in California from 2000 to 2016. Every state has two Senate seats, and each seat goes up for election every six years. The terms of the seats are staggered so that roughly one-third of the seats are up every two years.
Election results (U.S. Senator), California 2000-2016 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | First-place candidate | First-place candidate votes (%) | Second-place candidate | Second-place candidate votes (%) | Margin of victory (%) |
2016 | ![]() |
61.6% | ![]() |
38.4% | 23.2% |
2012 | ![]() |
62.5% | ![]() |
37.5% | 25% |
2010 | ![]() |
52.2% | ![]() |
42.2% | 10% |
2006 | ![]() |
59.5% | ![]() |
35.1% | 24.4% |
2004 | ![]() |
57.8% | ![]() |
37.8% | 20% |
2000 | ![]() |
55.9% | ![]() |
36.6% | 19.3% |
Gubernatorial elections, 2000-2016
This chart shows the results of the four gubernatorial elections held between 2000 and 2016. Gubernatorial elections are held every four years in California.
Election results (Governor), California 2000-2016 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | First-place candidate | First-place candidate votes (%) | Second-place candidate | Second-place candidate votes (%) | Margin of victory (%) |
2014 | ![]() |
60% | ![]() |
40% | 20% |
2010 | ![]() |
53.8% | ![]() |
40.9% | 12.9% |
2006 | ![]() |
55.9% | ![]() |
39.0% | 16.9% |
2002 | ![]() |
47.3% | ![]() |
42.4% | 4.9% |
Congressional delegation, 2000-2016
This chart shows the number of Democrats and Republicans who were elected to represent California in the U.S. House from 2000 to 2016. Elections for U.S. House seats are held every two years.
Trifectas, 1992-2017
A state government trifecta occurs when one party controls both chambers of the state legislature and the governor's office.
California Party Control: 1992-2025
Twenty years with Democratic trifectas • No Republican trifectas
Scroll left and right on the table below to view more years.
Year | 92 | 93 | 94 | 95 | 96 | 97 | 98 | 99 | 00 | 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Governor | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | D | D | D | D | D | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D |
Senate | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D |
Assembly | D | D | D | S | R | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D |
Voter information
How the primary works
California uses a top-two primary system, in which all candidates appear on the same ballot. The top two vote-getters, regardless of party affiliation, move on to the general election. In states that do not use a top-two system, all parties are usually able to put forward a candidate for the general election if they choose to.[11][12]
Unlike the top-two format used in some states (Louisiana and Georgia special elections for example), a general election between the top-two candidates in California occurs regardless of whether the top candidate received 50% of the vote in the first round of elections.
As of June 2025, California was one of five states to use a top-two primary system, or a variation of the top-two system. See here for more information.
For information about which offices are nominated via primary election, see this article.
Poll times
All polls in California are open from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Pacific Time. An individual who is in line at the time polls close must be allowed to vote.[13]
Registration requirements
- Check your voter registration status here.
To vote in California, an individual must be a U.S. citizen and California resident. A voter must be at least 18 years of age on Election Day. Pre-registration is available at 16 years of age. Pre-registered voters are automatically registered to vote when they turn 18.[14]
Automatic registration
California automatically registers eligible individuals to vote when they complete a driver's license, identification (ID) card, or change of address transaction through the Department of Motor Vehicles. Learn more by visiting this website.
Online registration
- See also: Online voter registration
California has implemented an online voter registration system. Residents can register to vote by visiting this website.
Same-day registration
California allows same-day voter registration.
Californians must be registered to vote at least 15 days before Election Day. If the registration deadline has passed for an upcoming election, voters may visit a location designated by their county elections official during the 14 days prior to, and including Election Day to conditionally register to vote and vote a provisional ballot, which are counted once county election officials have completed the voter registration verification process. The state refers to this process as Same Day Voter Registration.[15][16]
Residency requirements
To register to vote in California, you must be a resident of the state. State law does not specify a length of time for which you must have been a resident to be eligible.
Verification of citizenship
California's constitution requires that voters be U.S. citizens. When registering to vote, proof of citizenship is not required. Individuals who become U.S. citizens less than 15 days before an election must bring proof of citizenship to their county elections office to register to vote in that election. An individual applying to register to vote must attest that they are a U.S. citizen under penalty of perjury.[15]
As of November 2024, two jurisdictions in California had authorized noncitizen residents to vote for local board of education positions through local ballot measures. Only one of those jurisdictions, San Francisco, had implemented that law. Noncitizens voting for board of education positions must register to vote using a separate application from the state voter registration application.[17]
All 49 states with voter registration systems require applicants to declare that they are U.S. citizens in order to register to vote in state and federal elections, under penalty of perjury or other punishment.[18] Seven states — Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, New Hampshire, and Wyoming — have laws requiring verification of citizenship at the time of voter registration, whether in effect or not. In three states — California, Maryland, and Vermont — at least one local jurisdiction allows noncitizens to vote in some local elections. Noncitizens registering to vote in those elections must complete a voter registration application provided by the local jurisdiction and are not eligible to register as state or federal voters.
Verifying your registration
The secretary of state's My Voter Status website allows residents to check their voter registration status online.
Voter ID requirements
California does not require voters to present identification before casting a ballot in most cases. However, some voters may be asked to show a form of identification when voting if they are voting for the first time after registering to vote by mail and did not provide a driver license number, California identification number, or the last four digits of their social security number.[19][20] On September 29, 2024, Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) signed SB 1174 into law prohibiting any jurisdiction in the state from adopting a local law that requires voters to present ID before voting.[21]
The following list of accepted ID was current as of October 2024. Click here for the California Secretary of State page to ensure you have the most current information.
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Early voting
California permits early voting. Learn more by visiting this website.
Early voting permits citizens to cast ballots in person at a polling place prior to an election. In states that permit no-excuse early voting, a voter does not have to provide an excuse for being unable to vote on Election Day. States that allow voters to cast no-excuse absentee/mail-in ballots in person are counted as no-excuse early voting states.
Forty-seven states and the District of Columbia permit no-excuse early voting.
Absentee voting
California provides for universal, automatic mail-in voting in all elections. Local election officials automatically deliver mail-in ballots to all registered voters. Voters may also choose to cast their ballots in person.[23][24]
See also
- California State Assembly elections, 2018
- California State Senate elections, 2018
- California State Legislature
- California elections, 2018
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Time, "A Leading California #MeToo Advocate Has Taken Unpaid Leave After Being Accused of Sexual Misconduct," February 9, 2018
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Los Angeles Times, "Campaign to recall Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon fizzles," February 13, 2018
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Tampa Bay Times, "Recall, sexual harassment issues shape legislative ballot," May 5, 2018
- ↑ Taegan Goddard's Political Dictionary, "Jungle primary," accessed January 13, 2016
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "State Primary Election Types," accessed September 11, 2017
- ↑ Los Angeles Times, "Running in 'Bernie Country,' a former Obama and Clinton staffer battles for state Assembly seat," November 25, 2017
- ↑ Los Angeles Times, "Schwarzenegger and Kasich back Republicans looking for a 'new way' for California's party," March 22, 2018
- ↑ Sacramento Bee, "When will Cristina Garcia return to the Assembly?" May 22, 2018
- ↑ California Demographics, "California Cities by Population," accessed April 2, 2018
- ↑ U.S. Census Bureau, "Quickfacts California," accessed April 2, 2018
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "State Primary Election Types," accessed August 13, 2024
- ↑ California Secretary of State, "Primary Elections in California," accessed August 13, 2024
- ↑ California Secretary of State, "Section 3: Polling Place Hours," accessed August 12, 2024
- ↑ California Secretary of State, "Voter Registration," accessed August 13, 2024
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 California Secretary of State, "Registering to Vote," accessed August 13, 2024
- ↑ California Secretary of State, "Same Day Voter Registration (Conditional Voter Registration)," accessed August 13, 2024
- ↑ SF.gov, "Non-citizen voting rights in local Board of Education elections," accessed November 14, 2024
- ↑ Under federal law, the national mail voter registration application (a version of which is in use in all states with voter registration systems) requires applicants to indicate that they are U.S. citizens in order to complete an application to vote in state or federal elections, but does not require voters to provide documentary proof of citizenship. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the application "may require only the minimum amount of information necessary to prevent duplicate voter registrations and permit State officials both to determine the eligibility of the applicant to vote and to administer the voting process."
- ↑ California Secretary of State, "What to Bring to Your Polling Place," accessed August 12, 2024
- ↑ BARCLAYS OFFICIAL CALIFORNIA CODE OF REGULATIONS, "Section 20107," accessed August 12, 2024
- ↑ Democracy Docket, "California Governor Signs Law to Ban Local Voter ID Requirements," September 30, 2024
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ California Legislative Information, "Cal. Election Code § 3000.5," accessed August 13, 2024
- ↑ California Legislative Information, "AB-37 Elections: vote by mail ballots," accessed August 13, 2024