Don’t be like some New York State Bernie Sanders supporters and be left out of the voting in this year’s highly contested presidential primaries because you miss the registration deadline.
Article from The Guardian.
Voter registration deadline
In California, the deadline to register to vote for any election is 15 days before Election Day but officials suggest registering early.
| Your registration must be postmarked or submitted electronically no later than: | |
|---|---|
| June 7, 2016 (Presidential Primary Election) |
May 23, 2016 |
| November 8, 2016 (General Election) |
October 24, 2016 |
Voting in a party’s primary
From the California Secretary of State’s site, here is some information about voting in presidential primaries this June. More information can be found on the site including information on the history of California’s open and closed primary election system.
- California’s new open primary system does not apply to candidates running for U.S. President, county central committee, or local offices.
- No voter may vote in the primary election of any political party other than the party he or she has disclosed a preference for upon registering to vote. However, a political party may authorize a person who has declined to disclose a party preference to vote in that party’s primary election.
From the site ~
No Party Preference Information ~ Voting in Presidential Primary Elections
Each political party has the option of allowing people who register to vote without stating a political party preference (“no party preference” voters – formerly known as “decline-to-state” voters) to vote in their presidential primary election. A political party must notify the Secretary of State’s office whether or not they will allow no party preference voters to vote in their presidential primary election 135 days before the election.
If a no party preference voter wishes to vote in the presidential primary election of a political party who has notified the Secretary of State that they will allow no party preference voters to vote in their party’s primary, a no party preference voter would simply ask their county elections office or ask a poll worker at their polling place for a ballot for that political party. A voter may not request more than one party’s ballot.
The following parties have chosen not to allow no party preference voters to participate in their presidential primary election in 2016:
- Republican
- Green
- Peace & Freedom
If a voter registered with no party preference and wants to vote for a presidential candidate in the Republican, Green, or Peace and Freedom parties at the June 7, 2016, Presidential Primary Election, the voter must re-register to vote with that party by May 23, 2016. To register online go to registertovote.ca.gov.
Voter eligibility and registration – general information
Information on voter eligibility and registration is available from the California Secretary of State’s site including information on:
- Assistance in other languages
- military personnel
- college students
- voting while living abroad
Qualifications
To register to vote in California, you must be:
- A United States citizen,
- A resident of California,
- 18 years of age or older on Election Day,
- Not currently imprisoned or on parole for the conviction of a felony (for more information on the rights of people who have been incarcerated, please see the Secretary of State’s Voting Rights for Californians with Criminal Convictions or Detained in Jail or Prison), and
- Not found by a court to be mentally incompetent.
Voters need to re-register if:
- You move to a new permanent residence,
- You change your name, or
- You change your political party choice.
Online registration
Online voter registration is available on the California Secretary of State’s site – online application. If you have any questions, visit Frequently Asked Questions.
Contact the California Secretary of State’s Elections Division at (800) 345-8683 if you have other questions.
Alameda County voter registration
Information for Alameda County voters is available at the county’s Registrar of Voters site. Alameda County voters can check their voter status, any party affiliation, and polling place on this site.
