The June 2nd primary is quickly approaching – now is the time to prepare. While primary elections typically see lower turnout (often hovering around 40–45% of registered voters), your participation is vital for several reasons, says the league of women voters.
• Local Races are Often Decided in June: For many local seats, this is the final election. The contests for District 2 and District 4 Supervisors feature only two candidates; the winner will be declared in June. Similarly, if one of the three candidates for County Clerk-Recorder receives more than 50% of the vote, they win the seat outright.
• The “Top Two” Rule: For statewide, assembly, and congressional contests, California uses a “Top Two” primary system. The two candidates with the most votes – regardless of party – move on to November. If you don’t vote now, your preferred candidate might not even be an option in the general election.
Important Dates & Deadlines
• May 4-8: Ballots begin arriving in mailboxes
• May 18: Deadline for voter registration
• June 2: Election Day
3 Steps to Prepare Today
1. Verify Your Registration: Visit registertovote.ca.gov to ensure your status is active and your mailing address is correct.
2. Track Your Ballot: Sign up for Where’s My Ballot? This free service notifies you when your ballot is mailed, received, and when your signature is verified for counting.
3. Research the Candidates:
• Vote411.org: Use this resource to see candidate profiles and read their platforms in their own words. Candidates are beginning to populate their information, and the effort is ongoing to encourage their participation. Vote411.org is available in Spanish and other languages as well as English.
• Attend or Watch Candidate Forums: Catch a replay of the County Clerk-Recorder forum (held April 7). Attend or watch upcoming supervisor forums or view the replays on the LWV SLOCO YouTube channel.
