Election administration in California
 |
U.S. Senate • U.S. House • Congressional special elections • State Senate • State Assembly • State ballot measures • Local ballot measures • School boards • Municipal • Recalls • How to run for office |
 |
|
|
 |
| Select a state from the menu below to learn more about its election administration. |
Election administration encompasses a state's voting policies and methods of enforcing them. These include voter identification requirements, early and absentee/mail-in voting provisions, voter list maintenance methods, and more. Each state's voting policies dictate who can vote and under what conditions.
Below, you will find details on the following election administration topics in California:
Poll times
- See also: State poll opening and closing 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.[2]
Voter registration
- 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-registration automatically registers voters when they turn 18.[3]
On October 10, 2015, California Governor Jerry Brown (D) signed into law Assembly Bill No. 1461, also known as the New Motor Voter Act. The legislation, which took effect in 2016, authorized automatic voter registration in California for any individuals who visit the Department of Motor Vehicles to acquire or renew a driver's license.[4][5]
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.
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. The state refers to this process as Same Day Voter Registration.[6]
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.[6]
Verifying your registration
The site Voter Status, run by the California Secretary of State's office, allows residents to check their voter registration status online.
Early and absentee voting policy
Early voting
- See also: Early voting
California permits early voting. Learn more by visiting this website.
Absentee/mail-in voting
- See also: Absentee/mail-in voting
California provides for universal, automatic mail-in voting in all elections. Local election officials automatically deliver mail-in ballots to all registered voters . State law does not preclude voters from choosing instead to cast their ballots in person.[7]
Returning absentee/mail-in ballots
California voters can return their absentee/mail-in ballot by mail or in person to their county election office or a ballot drop-off location. Ballots returned in person must be received by 8 p.m. on Election Day. Ballots returned by mail must be postmarked on or before Election Day and received no later than seven days after the election. Voters who are unable to return their ballot may designate another person to return it for them.[8]
Signature requirements and cure provisions
Absentee/mail-in ballots in California include a return envelope with an affidavit that must be signed by the voter. If the voter authorizes someone else to return the ballot, that person must also sign the envelope. Ballots will not be counted if the voter’s signature is missing or if election officials determine that the signature on the envelope does not match the voter’s signature on record. California law includes a cure provision allowing voters to correct an issue with the signature on their absentee/mail-in ballot.[9]
According to section 3019(d)(1) of California law:
| “ | A minimum of eight days prior to the certification of the election, the elections official shall provide notice to all voters identified pursuant to subdivision (c) of the opportunity to verify their signatures no later than 5 p.m. two days prior to the certification of the election.[9][10] | ” |
Was your absentee/mail-in ballot counted?
Voters can use the My Voter Status website provided by the California Secretary of State to check the status of their absentee/mail-in ballots.
Voter identification requirements
- See also: Voter ID in California
- See also: Voter identification laws by state
California does not require voters to present photo identification. 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.[11][12]
The following list of accepted ID was current as of March 2023. Click here for the California Secretary of State page to ensure you have the most current information.
| “ |
|
” |
Background
As of August 2023, 34 states required voters to present identification in order to vote at the polls on Election Day. Of these states, 23 required voters to present identification containing a photograph, and 11 accepted other forms of identification. The remaining 16 states did not require voters to present identification in order to vote at the polls on Election Day. Valid forms of identification differ by state. Commonly accepted forms include driver's licenses, state-issued identification cards, and military identification cards.[13][14]
Provisional ballot rules
Voters in California are given provisional ballots, or ballots requiring additional steps or information before they can be counted, under the following circumstances:[15]
- If the voter’s name is not on the official voter registration list at the polling place and the voter thinks that he or she is registered to vote, the voter has the right to cast a provisional ballot.
- If a voter who requested to vote by mail but chooses to vote at his or her polling place, the voter has the right to cast a provisional ballot. The voter may only cast a provisional ballot if he or she "did not receive the ballot or do not have their ballot with them (and the elections official is unable to verify that they have not returned their vote-by-mail ballot)."[15]
Was your provisional ballot counted?
Provisional ballots are counted "after elections officials have confirmed that you are registered to vote in that county and you did not already vote in that election." Provisional ballots are rejected when the signature on the ballot does not match the voter registration signature.[15][16]
Visit the secretary of state's website to check the status of your provisional ballot.
Local election officials
Do you need information about elections in your area? Are you looking for your local election official? Click here to visit the U.S. Vote Foundation and use their election official lookup tool. |
Ballotpedia's Election Administration Legislation Tracker
State election laws are changing. Keeping track of the latest developments in all 50 states can seem like an impossible job.
Here's the solution: Ballotpedia's Election Administration Legislation Tracker.
Ballotpedia's Election Administration Tracker sets the industry standard for ease of use, flexibility, and raw power. But that's just the beginning of what it can do:
- Ballotpedia's election experts provide daily updates on bills and other relevant political developments
- We translate complex bill text into easy-to-understand summaries written in everyday language
- And because it's from Ballotpedia, our Tracker is guaranteed to be neutral, unbiased, and nonpartisan
The Ballot Bulletin
The Ballot Bulletin is a weekly email that delivers the latest updates on election policy. The Ballot Bulletin tracks developments in election policy around the country, including legislative activity, big-picture trends, and recent news. Each email contains in-depth data from our Election Administration Legislation Tracker. You'll also be able to track relevant legislation, with links to and summaries of the bills themselves.
Recent issues
Click below to view recent issues of The Ballot Bulletin.
- The Ballot Bulletin: December 15, 2023
- The Ballot Bulletin: December 8, 2023
- The Ballot Bulletin: December 1, 2023
- The Ballot Bulletin: November 17, 2023
- The Ballot Bulletin: November 10, 2023
Subscribe
Enter your email address below to subscribe to The Ballot Bulletin.
Primary election type
- See also: Primary elections in California
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.[17][18][19][20]
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 2019, California was one of three states to use a top-two primary system. Washington used the system for congressional and state-level elections, and Nebraska utilized a top-two system for its nonpartisan state legislature.
For information about which offices are nominated via primary election, see this article.
Time off work for voting
In California, employees must notify employers of their intention to vote two working days prior to the election. Employers are required to provide two hours of paid leave before or after an employee's shift, whichever will better enable participation in the election:[21]
- "If a voter does not have sufficient time outside of working hours to vote at a statewide election, the voter may, without loss of pay, take off enough working time that, when added to the voting time available outside of working hours, will enable the voter to vote."[21]
- "No more than two hours of the time taken off for voting shall be without loss of pay. The time off for voting shall be only at the beginning or end of the regular working shift, whichever allows the most free time for voting and the least time off from the regular working shift, unless otherwise mutually agreed."[21]
- "If the employee on the third working day prior to the day of election, knows or has reason to believe that time off will be necessary to be able to vote on election day, the employee shall give the employer at least two working days’ notice that time off for voting is desired, in accordance with this section."[21]
As of 2020, 28 states had laws requiring employers to provide time off for voting under certain conditions.
Voting rules for people convicted of a felony
In California, people convicted of a felony have their right to vote automatically restored once they are released from prison. People serving felony sentences in state or federal prisons cannot vote, while people in jail who have not been convicted of a felony retain the right to vote as of 2020.[22]
Voting rights for people convicted of a felony vary from state to state. In the majority of states, people convicted of a felony cannot vote while they are incarcerated but may regain the right to vote upon release from prison or at some point thereafter.[23]
Voter list maintenance
All states have rules under which they maintain voter rolls—or, check and remove certain names from their lists of registered voters. Most states are subject to the parameters set by The National Voter Registration Act (NVRA).[24] The NVRA requires states to make efforts to remove deceased individuals and individuals who have become ineligible due to a change of address. It prohibits removing registrants from voter lists within 90 days of a federal election due to change of address unless a registrant has requested to be removed, or from removing people from voter lists solely because they have not voted. The NVRA says that states may remove names from their registration lists under certain other circumstances and that their methods for removing names must be uniform and nondiscriminatory.[25]
When names can be removed from the voter list
California law authorizes county election officials to remove individuals from the voter registration list if the individual:[26]
- Makes a written request to be removed
- Is declared mentally incompetent by a court
- Is incarcerated or placed on parole for conviction of a felony
- Dies
- Is determined to be registered to vote in a different state
- Remains on the inactive voter list through two federal general elections.
Inactive voter list rules
California law requires county election officials, 90 days prior to a primary election, to mail a nonforwardable postcard to each registered voter in the county unless they have voted in an election held within the past six months. If the postcard is returned as undeliverable, then county officials are to place the voter on an inactive list and send them a forwardable notice. Inactive voters do receive election-related materials from election officials and are not included in official calculations for signature requirements and other election administration procedures. Voters who remain on the inactive voter list by not responding to address verification notices or by not voting through the next two federal general elections are to be removed from the voter registration list. An inactive voter may be added back to the active voter list by updating their registration status or by voting.[27]
The Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC)
According to its website, ERIC is a nonprofit corporation that is governed by a board of member-states. These member states submit voter registration and motor vehicle registration information to ERIC. ERIC uses this information, as well as Social Security death records, to provide member states with detailed reports showing voters who have moved within their state, moved out of their state, died, have duplicate registrations in their state, or are potentially eligible to vote but are not yet registered. ERIC's website describes its funding as follows: "Each state pays annual dues, which are determined by a formula approved by the ERIC membership. The formula includes a state's citizen voting age population as a factor."[28]
By 2022, 33 states and the District of Columbia had joined ERIC. As of August 2023, 26 states and the District of Columbia were members in the ERIC program.[29]
As of August 2023, California was not participating in the ERIC program.
Post-election auditing
California state law requires post-election audits. Local election officials audit 1% of the precincts, which are randomly selected. They also audit one precinct for each race not included in the randomly selected precincts. If there are discrepancies, they must be reported, but they do not change the outcome of the election. The audit takes place during the canvass.[30]
California was scheduled to institute a risk-limiting audit instead of a traditional audit beginning in 2020. The risk-limiting audit was expected to cover "each contest fully contained within the county’s borders and partial risk-limiting audits for each cross-jurisdictional contest," according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Under the risk-limiting audit, a report was expected to be published after completion of the audit.[30]
Post-election audits check that election results tallied by a state's voting system match results from paper records, such as paper ballots filled out by voters or the paper records produced by electronic voting machines. Post-election audits are classified into two categories: audits of election results—which include traditional post-election audits as well as risk-limiting audits—and procedural audits.[23][31]
Typically, traditional post-election audits are done by recounting a portion of ballots, either electronically or by hand, and comparing the results to those produced by the state's voting system. In contrast, risk-limiting audits use statistical methods to compare a random sample of votes cast to election results instead of reviewing every ballot. The scope of procedural audits varies by state, but they typically include a systematic review of voting equipment, performance of the voting system, vote totals, duties of election officials and workers, ballot chain of custody, and more.
As of December 2023, 41 states and the District of Columbia required some form of post-election audit. Of these, 36 states and the District of Columbia required traditional post-election audits, three states required risk-limiting post-election audits, and two states required procedural post-election audits.[32]
Noteworthy events
All-mail voting (2021)
On September 27, 2021, Governor Gavin Newsom (D) signed AB37 into law, providing for universal, automatic mail-in voting in all future elections in California. Under the law as enacted, local election officials must automatically mail every registered voter a mail-in ballot. In addition, AB37 modified the mail-in ballot return deadline: ballots are considered "timely cast" if voted on or before Election Day and, when delivered by mail, received by election officials no later than seven days after Election Day (previously, the receipt deadline for ballots returned by mail was three days after Election Day). The law does not preclude voters from choosing instead to cast their ballots in person.[7]
On September 2, 2021, the California State Senate approved the final version of AB37 by a vote of 30-7. On September 3, 2021, the California State Assembly followed suit, voting 60-17 in favor of the bill.[7]
In response to the bill's signing, Secretary of State Shirley Weber (D) said, "Voters like having options for returning their ballot whether by mail, at a secure drop box, a voting center or at a traditional polling station. And the more people who participate in elections, the stronger our democracy and the more we have assurance that elections reflect the will of the people of California." Meanwhile, California GOP Chairwoman Jessica Millan Patterson said, "It’s no secret that Democrats have and will continue to try to manipulate election regulations for their political advantage. Republicans will hold them accountable through our election integrity operations – including litigation, where appropriate – and by recruiting and supporting candidates who will provide solutions to California’s numerous challenges."[33]
Click here for the full text of the bill.
Election policy ballot measures
Ballotpedia has tracked the following ballot measures relating to election and campaign policy in California.
- California Proposition 198, Open Blanket Primary Election Initiative (March 1996)
- California Proposition 226, Ban on Political Contributions from Payroll Deductions Initiative (June 1998)
- California Proposition 3, Closed Presidential Primaries Measure (1998)
- California Proposition 208, Campaign Contribution and Spending Limits Initiative (1996)
- California Proposition 219, Uniform Application of Ballot Measures Amendment (June 1998)
- California Proposition 23, None of the Above Option on Ballots Initiative (March 2000)
- California Proposition 34, State Elective Office Campaign Contribution Limits Measure (2000)
- California Proposition 62, Top-Two Primaries Initiative (2004)
- California Proposition 15, Biennial Lobbyist Fee and Public Campaign Funding Measure (June 2010)
- California Proposition 14, Top-Two Primaries Amendment (June 2010)
- California Proposition 131, Term Limits and Campaign Finance Limits Initiative (1990)
- California Proposition 136, Changes to Vote Requirements for New or Increased Taxes Initiative (1990)
- California Proposition 137, Voter Approval for Certain Rules Governing Initiatives Amendment (1990)
- California Proposition 77, Changes to Legislative and Congressional Redistricting Initiative (2005)
- California Proposition 60, Political Parties to Participate in Primaries and General Elections Amendment (2004)
- California Proposition 20, Congressional Redistricting Initiative (2010)
- California Proposition 41, County Voting Equipment Bond Measure (March 2002)
- California Proposition 89, Public Campaign Finance Program, Campaign Finance Limits, and Increased Corporate Tax Initiative (2006)
- California Proposition 4, Primary Partisanship Referendum (1916)
- California Proposition 2, Ballot Regulations Referendum (October 1915)
- California Proposition 6, Naturalized Citizens Voting Eligibility Amendment (June 1972)
- California Proposition 23, Election Decisions Amendment (1914)
- California Proposition 18, Voter Qualifications Amendment (1924)
- California Proposition 6, Publication of Bond Propositions Amendment (1958)
- California Proposition 8, Habitancy Requirement for the Presidential Election Amendment (1958)
- California Proposition 2, Terms of Assembly Members Amendment (1960)
- California Proposition 8, Voting Prohibition for Those Serving a Sentence Amendment (1960)
- California Proposition 21, Incumbents for Superior Courts Amendment (1962)
- California Proposition 8, Elections of Superior Court Judges Amendment (1964)
- California Proposition 15, Exemption From Voter Education Requirement Amendment (1966)
- California Proposition 23, Election Results Amendment (1926)
- California Proposition 25, Voter Eligibility Amendment (1930)
- California Proposition 22, Municipal Charter Amendments Amendment (1930)
- California Proposition 4, Election Returns for Governor and Lieutenant Governor Amendment (1940)
- California Proposition 7, County Board of Education Amendment (1946)
- California Proposition 8, Superior Court Vacancies Amendment (1948)
- California Proposition 13, Requirement to be a Political Party Candidate Initiative (1952)
- California Proposition 7, Political Party Affiliation on the Ballot Measure (1952)
- California Proposition 43, Constitutional Right to Have One's Vote Counted Amendment (March 2002)
- California Proposition 49, Prohibition of Political Party Endorsements for Nonpartisan Candidates Amendment (June 1986)
- California Proposition 20, County Charter Officials Amendment (1932)
- California Proposition 19, City and City and County Charters Amendment (1932)
- California Proposition 7, Voter Eligibility Requirements Amendment (1948)
- California Proposition 4, Voter Eligibility Amendment (1950)
- California Proposition 32, Ban on Political Contributions from Payroll Deductions Initiative (2012)
- California Proposition 6, Boards of Education Amendment (June 1970)
- California Non-Profit Donor Disclosure Initiative (2014)
- California Nonpartisan Ballots Initiative (2016)
- California Senatorial Elections, Proposition 1 (1892)
- California Voter Qualifications, Proposition 3 (1892)
- California Elections by Ballot, Amendment 2 (1896)
- California Election of County Officers, Amendment 5 (1896)
- California Direct Primaries, Amendment 3 (1908)
- California Proposition 17, County and Municipal Vote Requirements Amendment (October 1911)
- California Proposition 47, Prohibition Elections Initiative (1914)
- California Proposition 21, Incurring Indebtedness Propositions Amendment (1926)
- California Proposition 16, Require Supermajority Voter Approval to Expand Utility Services Initiative (June 2010)
- California Proposition 17, Car Insurance Rates Based on Coverage History Initiative (June 2010)
- California Proposition 27, Elimination of Citizens Redistricting Commission Initiative (2010)
- California Proposition 45, Local Legislative Option to Extend Term Limits via Petition Amendment (March 2002)
- California Proposition 44, Chiropractic License Revocation for Insurance Fraud Measure (March 2002)
- California Proposition 212, Campaign Spending and Contribution Limits Initiative (1996)
- California Proposition 6, Municipal Charter Changes Amendment (October 1911)
- California Proposition 4, Judicial Vacancies Term Amendment (October 1915)
- California Proposition 8, Voter Registration Amendment (1936)
- California Proposition 21, Superior Court Vacancies Amendment (1952)
- California Proposition 4, Open Presidential Primaries Amendment (June 1972)
- California Proposition 59, Election of District Attorney Amendment (1986)
- California Proposition 38, Language for Election Materials Initiative (1984)
- California Proposition 7, Changes to Elections Amendment (1972)
- California Proposition 62, Approval of Local Taxes Initiative (1986)
- California Proposition 4, City Boards of Education Amendment (June 1978)
- California Proposition 6, Elections of County Sheriffs Amendment (June 1978)
- California Proposition 4, Elections Regarding Low-Income Housing Amendment (June 1980)
- California Proposition 66, Elected County Assessor Amendment (June 1988)
- California Proposition 9, Political Reform Initiative (June 1974)
- California Proposition 20, Candidates Who Engaged in Libelous or Slanderous Behavior Amendment (June 1984)
- California Proposition 73, Funds for Election Campaigns Initiative (June 1988)
- California Proposition 68, Campaign Contributions Initiative (June 1988)
- California Proposition 40, Campaign Finance Initiative (1984)
- California Proposition 1, Primary Elections Referendum (October 1915)
- California Proposition 10, Abolishment of the Poll Tax Initiative (1914)
- California Proposition 11, Alien Poll Tax Amendment (1920)
- California Proposition 12, Constitutional Conventions Amendment (1914)
- California Proposition 13, Bond Electors Initiative (1914)
- California Proposition 13, Educational Poll Tax Amendment (1924)
- California Proposition 13, Voter Eligibility and Absentee Voting Amendment (1926)
- California Proposition 17, City Charters Amendment (1932)
- California Proposition 17, Initiative Election Amendment (1938)
- California Proposition 18, Drafting County Charter by Board of Supervisors Amendment (1932)
- California Allow Candidates to Use Public Money from Dedicated Funds Measure (2024)
- California Election Policies Initiative (2024)
The table below lists bills related to election administration that have been introduced during (or carried over to) the current legislative session in California. The following information is included for each bill:
- State
- Bill number
- Official name or caption
- Most recent action date
- Legislative status
- Topics dealt with by the bill
Bills are organized alphabetically, first by state and then by bill number. The table displays up to 100 results by default. To view additional results, use the arrows in the upper-right corner of the table. For more information about a particular bill, click the bill number. This will open a separate page with additional information.
Ballotpedia's Election Administration Legislation Tracker
State election laws are changing. Keeping track of the latest developments in all 50 states can seem like an impossible job.
Here's the solution: Ballotpedia's Election Administration Legislation Tracker.
Ballotpedia's Election Administration Tracker sets the industry standard for ease of use, flexibility, and raw power. But that's just the beginning of what it can do:
- Ballotpedia's election experts provide daily updates on bills and other relevant political developments
- We translate complex bill text into easy-to-understand summaries written in everyday language
- And because it's from Ballotpedia, our Tracker is guaranteed to be neutral, unbiased, and nonpartisan
The Ballot Bulletin
The Ballot Bulletin is a weekly email that delivers the latest updates on election policy. The Ballot Bulletin tracks developments in election policy around the country, including legislative activity, big-picture trends, and recent news. Each email contains in-depth data from our Election Administration Legislation Tracker. You'll also be able to track relevant legislation, with links to and summaries of the bills themselves.
Click here to view recent issues and subscribe.
Ballot access
In order to get on the ballot in California, a candidate for state or federal office must meet a variety of state-specific filing requirements and deadlines. These regulations, known as ballot access laws, determine whether a candidate or party will appear on an election ballot. These laws are set at the state level. A candidate must prepare to meet ballot access requirements well in advance of primaries, caucuses, and the general election.
There are three basic methods by which an individual may become a candidate for office in a state.
- An individual can seek the nomination of a state-recognized political party.
- An individual can run as an independent. Independent candidates often must petition in order to have their names printed on the general election ballot.
- An individual can run as a write-in candidate.
This article outlines the steps that prospective candidates for state-level and congressional office must take in order to run for office in California. For information about filing requirements for presidential candidates, see "Ballot access requirements for presidential candidates in California." Information about filing requirements for local-level offices is not available in this article (contact state election agencies for information about local candidate filing processes).
California utilizes a top-two primary system. This system establishes a single primary election for all candidates running for office. The primary is open to all registered voters. The top two vote-getters in this primary election then move on to the general election, regardless of party affiliation. The system was established with the Top Two Primaries Act, which appeared as Proposition 14 on the June 8, 2010, ballot. It was approved with 53.8 percent of the vote and took effect with a special election on April 19, 2011.[34]
Redistricting
- See also: Redistricting in California
Redistricting is the process by which new congressional and state legislative district boundaries are drawn. Each of California's 53 United States Representatives and 120 state legislators are elected from political divisions called districts. United States Senators are not elected by districts, but by the states at large. District lines are redrawn every 10 years following completion of the United States census. The federal government stipulates that districts must have nearly equal populations and must not discriminate on the basis of race or ethnicity.[35][36][37][38]
California was apportioned 52 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives after the 2020 census, one fewer than it received after the 2010 census. Click here for more information about redistricting in California after the 2020 census.
State process
- See also: State-by-state redistricting procedures
In California, a non-politician commission draws both congressional and state legislative district lines. Established in 2008 by ballot initiative, the commission comprises 14 members: five Democrats, five Republicans, and four belonging to neither party. A panel of state auditors selects the pool of nominees from which the commissioners are appointed. This pool comprises 20 Democrats, 20 Republicans, and 20 belonging to neither party. The majority and minority leaders of both chambers of the state legislature may each remove two members from each of the aforementioned groups. The first eight commission members are selected at random from the remaining nominees. These first eight comprise three Democrats, three Republicans, and two belonging to neither party. The first eight commissioners appoint the remaining six, which must include two Democrats, two Republicans, and two belonging to neither party.[39]
Commissioners must meet the following requirements in order to serve:[39]
- Members must have voted in at least two of the last three statewide elections.
- Members cannot have switched party affiliation for at least five years.
- "Neither commissioners nor immediate family may have been, within 10 years of appointment, a candidate for federal or state office or member of a party central committee; an officer, employee, or paid consultant to a federal or state candidate or party; a registered lobbyist or paid legislative staff; or a donor of more than $2,000 to an elected candidate."
- Members cannot be "staff, consultants or contractors for state or federal government" while serving as commissioners. The same prohibition applies to the family of commission members.
In order to approve a redistricting plan, nine of the commission's 14 members must vote for it. These nine must include three Democrats, three Republicans, and three belonging to neither party. Maps drawn by the commission may be overturned by public referendum. In the event that a map is overturned by the public, the California Supreme Court must appoint a group to draw a new map.[39]
The California Constitution requires that districts be contiguous. Further, the state constitution mandates that "to the extent possible, [districts] must ... preserve the geographic integrity of cities, counties, neighborhoods and communities of interest." Districts must also "encourage compactness." State Senate and Assembly districts should be nested within each other where possible.[39]
Election administration agencies
Election agencies
- See also: State election agencies
Individuals seeking additional information about voting provisions in California can contact the following local, state, and federal agencies.
California County Elections offices
California Secretary of State:
- 1500 11th Street, 5th Floor
- Sacramento, California 95814
- Telephone: 916-657-2166
- Toll free: 800-833-8683
- http://www.sos.ca.gov/
U.S. Election Assistance Commission
- 633 3rd Street NW, Suite 200
- Washington, DC 20001
- Telephone: 301-563-3919
- Toll free: 1-866-747-1471
Ballotpedia's election coverage
- United States Senate Democratic Party primaries, 2024
- United States House Democratic Party primaries, 2024
- Democratic Party gubernatorial primaries, 2024
- Democratic Party Secretary of State primaries, 2024
- Democratic Party Attorney General primaries, 2024
- State legislative Democratic primaries, 2024
- United States Senate Republican Party primaries, 2024
- United States House Republican Party primaries, 2024
- Republican Party gubernatorial primaries, 2024
- Republican Party Secretary of State primaries, 2024
- Republican Party Attorney General primaries, 2024
- State legislative Republican primaries, 2024
See also
- 2024 election dates and deadlines
- Voting in California
- Ballot access requirements for political candidates in California
- Redistricting in California
Elections in California
- California elections, 2023
- California elections, 2022
- California elections, 2021
- California elections, 2020
- California elections, 2019
- California elections, 2018
- California elections, 2017
- California elections, 2016
- California elections, 2015
- California elections, 2014
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ We use the term "absentee/mail-in voting" to describe systems in which requests or applications are required. We use the term "all-mail voting" to denote systems where the ballots themselves are sent automatically to all voters. We use the hyphenate term for absentee voting because some states use “mail voting” (or a similar alternative) to describe what has traditionally been called "absentee voting."
- ↑ California Secretary of State, "Section 3: Polling Place Hours," accessed April 4, 2023
- ↑ California Secretary of State, "Voter Registration," accessed April 4, 2023
- ↑ The Los Angeles Times, "Gov. Brown approves automatic voter registration for Californians," October 10, 2015
- ↑ The Sacramento Bee, "California voter law could register millions–for a start," October 20, 2015
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 California Secretary of State, "Registering to Vote," accessed April 4, 2023
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 California Legislative Information, "AB-37 Elections: vote by mail ballots," accessed April 4, 2024 Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; name "CaliforniaAB37" defined multiple times with different content Cite error: Invalid<ref>tag; name "CaliforniaAB37" defined multiple times with different content - ↑ California Secretary of State, "Vote By Mail," accessed September 29, 2019
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 California Legislative Information, "Elections Code - ELEC, Division 3. Vote by mail voting, new resident, and new citizen voting (3000 - 3503)," accessed April 4, 2023
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ California Secretary of State, "What to Bring to Your Polling Place," accessed April 4, 2023
- ↑ BARCLAYS OFFICIAL CALIFORNIA CODE OF REGULATIONS, "Section 20107," accessed April 4, 2023
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "Voter Identification Requirements|Voter ID Laws," March 9, 2023
- ↑ The Washington Post, "Do I need an ID to vote? A look at the laws in all 50 states," October 27, 2014
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 California Secretary of State, "Provisional Voting," accessed April 4, 2023
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "Provisional Ballots," November 4, 2022
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "State Primary Election Types," accessed October 25, 2019
- ↑ FairVote, "Primaries," accessed October 25, 2019
- ↑ Ballotpedia research conducted December 26, 2013, through January 3, 2014, researching and analyzing various state websites and codes.
- ↑ Alex Padilla California Secretary of State, "Primary Elections in California," accessed October 25, 2019
- ↑ 21.0 21.1 21.2 21.3 California Legislative Information, "Elections Code," accessed April 4, 2023
- ↑ Alex Padilla California Secretary of State, "Voting Rights: Persons with a Criminal History," accessed April 4, 2023
- ↑ 23.0 23.1 National Conference of State Legislatures, "Felon Voting Rights," April 6, 2023 Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; name "ncsl" defined multiple times with different content - ↑ The Justice Department notes, "Six States (Idaho, Minnesota, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Wisconsin, and Wyoming) are exempt from the NVRA because, on and after August 1, 1994, they either had no voter-registration requirements or had election-day voter registration at polling places with respect to elections for federal office."
- ↑ The United States Department of Justice, "The National Voter Registration Act of 1993," accessed Aprl 4, 2023
- ↑ California Election Code, "Article 1 Section 2200," accessed April 4, 2023
- ↑ California Election Code, " Article 2 Sections 2220, 2226," accessed April 4, 2023
- ↑ ERIC, "Home," accessed April 4, 2023
- ↑ ERIC, "Who We Are," accessed August 7, 2023
- ↑ 30.0 30.1 National Conference of State Legislatures, "Post-Election Audits," accessed October 28, 2019
- ↑ Election Assistance Commission, "Election Audits Across the United States," accessed August 15, 2023
- ↑ Ballotpedia research conducted in June 2023, researching and analyzing various state websites and codes.
- ↑ The Sacramento Bee, "California is now permanently a vote-by-mail state as Gavin Newsom signs bill," September 27, 2021
- ↑ California Secretary of State, "June 8, 2010 Results Page," accessed June 20, 2022
- ↑ All About Redistricting, "Why does it matter?" accessed April 8, 2015
- ↑ Indy Week, "Cracked, stacked and packed: Initial redistricting maps met with skepticism and dismay," June 29, 2011
- ↑ The Atlantic, "How the Voting Rights Act Hurts Democrats and Minorities," June 17, 2013
- ↑ Redrawing the Lines, "The Role of Section 2 - Majority Minority Districts," accessed April 6, 2015
- ↑ 39.0 39.1 39.2 39.3 All About Redistricting, "California," accessed April 21, 2015
 |
State of California Sacramento (capital) |
|---|---|
| Elections |
What's on my ballot? | Elections in 2024 | How to vote | How to run for office | Ballot measures |
| Government |
Who represents me? | U.S. President | U.S. Congress | Federal courts | State executives | State legislature | State and local courts | Counties | Cities | School districts | Public policy |
