By ONME Newswire
As some California voters are still getting used to election primaries being in March instead of June, new voters have until February 20, 2024 to register to vote--the Presidential Primary Elections are Tuesday, March 5, 2024.
For all active registered voters, a vote-by-mail ballot for the March 5, 2024 Presidential Primary Election will be sent from each county's election office starting February 5, 2024. Ballot drop-off locations open on Tuesday, February 6, 2024. Vote centers open for early in-person voting in all Voter’s Choice Act counties beginning on February 24, 2024. Voters can drop off or mail their vote-by-mail ballots as long as they are postmarked on or before Election Day (March 5) and received by March 12, 2024.
So when did the California primaries move from June to March?
It was in September of 2017 when Gov. Jerry Brown signed legislation SB 568 that moved California’s presidential primary elections to the beginning of March, three months ahead of when they were held in 2016. Due to the signed Prime Time Primary Act, by 2020, primary elections were moved to March. California is one of 14 states set to hold their presidential primary on March 5, according to CalMatters. Experts say the intentions of such a move was to give California a big edge and influence on who enters the presidential races and/or who is favored. So far, this therory does not have substantial proof to its original purpose.
Here's how the primary elections work in general
The Top Two Candidates Open Primary Act, which took effect January 1, 2011, requires that all candidates for a voter-nominated office be listed on the same ballot. Previously known as partisan offices, voter-nominated offices are state legislative offices, U.S. congressional offices, and state constitutional offices. Only the two candidates receiving the most votes—regardless of party preference—move on to the general election regardless of vote totals.
Write-in candidates for voter-nominated offices can only run in the primary election. However, a write-in candidate can only move on to the general election if the candidate is one of the top two vote-getters in the primary election.
Additionally, there is no independent nomination process for a general election. California's new open primary system does not apply to candidates running for U.S. President, county central committee, or local offices.
How presidential candidates will appear on the primary election ballots
County Registrar’s office have sent postcards to registered voters letting them know their political party registration determines which presidential primary candidates will appear on their March 5, 2024 primary election ballot.
Political parties decide who can vote for their presidential primary candidates. All registered voters fall under two categories:
Registered with a Political Party Preference
If you are registered with one of the six political parties in California, your ballot will list only that party’s presidential primary candidates. You can vote only for that party’s presidential candidates. California’s political parties are:
American Independent Party
Democratic Party
Green Party
Libertarian Party
Peace and Freedom Party
Republican Party
If your party registration differs from the party of the presidential candidate you want to vote for, you will need to register to vote with that party. If you want to change your party registration, the Registrar’s office advises you to do so before Feb. 20, 2024.
2. Registered as Nonpartisan (also known as independent or no party preference)
If you are registered as nonpartisan, you will automatically receive a nonpartisan ballot for the March 5 election. Your nonpartisan ballot will not list the presidential primary contest or candidates.
As a nonpartisan voter, you can select one of three different crossover ballot types.
This year the American Independent Party, Democratic Party, and Libertarian Party are allowing nonpartisan voters to take part in their presidential primary elections.
Nonpartisan voters must request one of these three parties’ ballots to vote for that party’s presidential primary candidate. Selecting one of these three political party ballots will not register you with that party. You will remain a nonpartisan voter.
If you are a nonpartisan voter, you will soon get a postcard asking you to let the Registrar’s office know your choice of a party crossover ballot before Jan. 5, so it is included in the first mailing of ballots going out the week of Feb. 4.
Political Parties NOT Allowing Nonpartisan Voters to Crossover
This year, the Green Party, Peace and Freedom Party, and Republican Party have closed their presidential primary to nonpartisan voters.
Nonpartisan voters will not be able to select one of these ballots. Nonpartisan voters who want one of these parties’ ballots will need to re-register with that party.
This can be done by completing a new voter registration online.
No matter what your party preference, all registered voters will be allowed to vote on nonpartisan contests and voter-nominated offices, such as U.S. congressional offices and state legislative offices.
The top two vote getters in voter-nominated contests will advance to the Nov. 5 general election.
Not sure which political party you’re registered with or if you’re registered to vote?
You can check your registration, re-register, and register to vote: https://voterstatus.sos.ca.gov/
The Registrar’s office encourages you to do so well before Feb. 20 to avoid delays and long lines at vote centers.
Who are the other candidates on the primary election ballot?
All registered voters will be allowed to vote on nonpartisan contests and voter-nominated offices, such as U.S. congressional offices and state legislative offices, such as state senate, state assembly, municipal government, recalls, ballot measures, and local ballot measures.
Here's clarity on the United States Senate race, formerly heald by the late Senator Dianne Feinstein and filled by Governor Newsom’s appointment of Senator Laphonza Butler. Sen. Butler announced in October that she will not run in the 2024 elections for the seat she currently occupies until November 5, 2024. Consequently, in 2024, four elections will be held to fill the single senate seat; hence, the reason for four elections for this one seat.
Given that Sen. Butler’s term ends on election day in 2024, California law requires that a special election be held for a short term of November 6, 2024, through January 2, 2025, the end of the current Congress (special election). In addition, a regular election will be held for a full six-year term starting January 3, 2025, through January 2031 (regular election).
