Do You Have To Be Registered As A Democrat To Vote In The Primary In California

California Today

Confused Near Your Voter Registration? Don't Be

Wednesday: Everything you need to know most your presidential main ballot. Also: A tertiary endeavor at a housing bill.

January. 8, 2020

Voters in San Francisco on Election Day in 2016. — Credit... Jim Wilson/The New York Times

Practiced morning.

(If y'all don't already get California Today by email, here's the sign-upwardly .)

We are at present 55 days away from March 3, which — in case you have managed to forget — is California's Primary Day, at present and for the foreseeable future.

But while Super Tuesday is an important deadline for the state's election officials, Secretarial assistant of State Alex Padilla told me in that location'due south mayhap an even bigger one coming upwards on Feb. 3.

That'southward when Californians tin actually get-go voting, by casting ballots at their county elections offices, and that's too when vote-by-postal service ballots will exist sent out.

"We are in prime fourth dimension," Mr. Padilla said.

[Read more about how the new master agenda changes the contest for Democrats.]

Most registered voters are ready to go. They won't have to exercise anything in gild to vote in the master.

Those who are registered equally Democrats will get ballots with Democratic presidential candidates, those registered every bit Republicans can vote for their preferred Republican presidential candidate, and and then on. (And, yeah, there will exist options besides President Trump.)

In the 15 counties conducting their elections nether the model laid out by the Voter's Choice Deed, you won't have to ask for a vote-past-mail election; it volition be sent automatically.

However, in that location is a wrinkle that seems to be causing some confusion: Equally deep bluish California has settled into its peak-two primary organisation, the number of voters who have registered as having "No Party Preference" has risen.

As of the well-nigh recent state report, the number was 26.vii percent, or five.iv million, which is more than the 23.6 pct registered every bit Republicans.

And those "No Political party Preference" voters practise have to take action to make their pick for president in March.

[Read more near California'south top-two primary system .]

I asked Sam Mahood, spokesman for the Secretary of Country'due south office, to walk me through the process.

Is at that place an imminent deadline?

"Aye and no — not really," Mr. Mahood told me.

In December, if you lot were registered every bit having no party preference, y'all were sent a postcard asking if you wanted to vote for president in the March main, and if then, you were given three ballot options.

You could receive a ballot with either Democratic, American Independent or Libertarian presidential candidates.

Those are the just parties who have called to allow "No Party Preference" voters to participate in their primaries.

If you've already sent yours back with the box checked saying, for example, you lot'd like to vote for a Democratic presidential candidate, "you're skilful," Mr. Mahood said. You lot'll become to vote for your preferred candidate.

What if I'm a "No Political party Preference" voter and did non ship back the postcard?

Send it back right away, Mr. Mahood said, if you still take information technology and you lot want to vote in i of those three primaries. Otherwise, y'all may get a election without whatever presidential candidates on information technology.

If y'all were sent a ballot without presidential candidates and you practice want to vote for one, do non make full out that ballot. Instead, contact your canton ballot function.

"Yous can call them, you can email them, y'all tin can fax them," he said, and ask for a replacement election to exist mailed to you.

Some counties already have online portals to practice this.

The deadline to asking a vote-by-mail service ballot is Feb. 25, a calendar week earlier the election.

Yous tin can also accept that blank ballot to a concrete polling place and commutation it for a election with presidential candidates from 1 of those parties.

And if y'all prefer to vote in person, inquire a poll worker for a election with your preferred party candidates on it when you lot check in.

What if I'grand a "No Party Preference" voter and want to vote for Republican, Green or Peace and Freedom presidential candidates? (And, again, yes, there are multiple of each .)

You lot have to re-register to vote as a member of the political party whose candidate yous want to vote for. (So, if you lot want to cast a chief ballot for President Trump, y'all'll demand to re-register every bit a Republican.)

The deadline to do that online at registertovote.ca.gov is Feb. 18.

What if you forget to do all that?

You can still become through the same-day voter registration process — although Mr. Mahood said he wouldn't recommend it, since it involves going to your canton election office, a vote center or your polling place in person, where waits volition probably exist quite long.

If you have more questions, go to Howtovoteforpresident.sos.ca.gov.

And if you desire to cheque your registration status, go to voterstatus.sos.ca.gov.

Oh, and it probably goes without maxim that, if you tin, yous should vote.

As Mr. Padilla put it: "I call up we all learned in high schoolhouse government that our democracy works all-time when as many people participate as they tin can."

[Read more than most the 17-year-olds who are pushing to cast ballots in March.]

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Jill Cowan grew upwards in Orange County, graduated from U.C. Berkeley and has reported all over the state, including the Bay Area, Bakersfield and Los Angeles — but she e'er wants to run into more. Follow forth here or on Twitter, @jillcowan .

California Today is edited by Julie Bloom, who grew up in Los Angeles and graduated from U.C. Berkeley.