California Voter Foundation Logo

California Online Voter Guide


June 2016 Primary Election

25th edition

Voter Guide toolbar - President selected Propostions Statewide Congress

About this Election

California's Statewide Primary is Tuesday, June 7.

Dates and Deadlines

What's on the Ballot?

Federal contests

State contests:

Many voters have local candidates or measures on their ballots as well. Check your county sample ballot, county election office web site and Voters Edge (League of Women Voters of CA & Maplight)) for information on local contests.

Follow the Money follow the money

Learn who the top donors are to California candidates and measures through Voters Edge, a nonpartisan voter guide produced by Maplight and the League of Women Voters of California. Visit "How to Follow the Money" to learn how to look up state and federal campaign contributions. Around the Capitol's Election Track features recently reported state campaign contributions.

About Primary Elections in California

Unlike your voting options in all other California political contests, your voting right in the Presidential primary depends on the political party you are registered with. If you want to change your party preference, you must fill out and submit a voter registration form no later than May 23.

Though California has a "top two" primary process, the political parties decide whether to open their Presidential primaries to independent voters, called No Party Preference voters in California. (In the November general election, you can vote for any party's Presidential candidate regardless of your party preference.)

By default, No Party Preference voters receive a ballot which has no presidential candidates listed on it. However, the Democratic, American Independent and Libertarian parties will allow No Party Preference voters to cast ballots in their Presidential primary contests. Those registered No Party Preference who wish to vote in one of these parties' primaries must request a ballot by mail or at the polls. If you received a ballot with no presidential candidates on it, contact your County Registrar of Voters. If you are a No Party Preference vote-by-mail voter, you can also bring your ballot to your polling place on Election Day and exchange it for a different ballot of your choice from one of the three parties (Demccratic, Libertarian and American Independent parties) permitting No Party Preference voters to participate in their primaries.

In all other Primary contests, all voters, whether registered with a party or not, are allowed to vote for any candidate of any party and the top two vote getters will proceed to the General election, even if they are of the same party.

For more details, see the Secretary of Stat'es No Party Preference Information page, and CVF's Ten Things to Know About California's Primary.

Official Sample Ballots and Voter Guides

If you are a registered voter, your county election office will mail you an official Sample Ballot providing your polling place location, a Vote-by-Mail ballot application and information on any local contests on your ballot. In addition, the Secretary of State mails out the Voter Information Guide to each household, covering statewide propositions and providing statements from the U.S. Senate candidates. These two publications provide the essential information you need to prepare to vote; if you haven't received them, contact your county election office.

Please note: the online version of the Secretary of State's Voter Information Guide includes statements and photos of the candidates running for President that are not included in the print version of the guide.

Additional Web Resources

CVF recommends the following nonpartisan election web sites:

Visit CVF's Elections index page for additional election-related resources and archived editions of the California Online Voter Guide.

Was this guide helpful?

Do you have suggestions, questions, or feedback? Please contact CVF. If you found this guide helpful, please donate to CVF and help support nonpartisan voter education.

 

This page was first published on April 7, 2016 | Last updated on June 1, 2016
Copyright California Voter Foundation, All Rights Reserved.