For the first time in nearly four decades, California voters are going to hold the fate of one — if not two — national elections in its hands.  Will Californians propel Donald Trump over the finish line by giving him the delegates needed to secure the Republican Nomination?  Will California make history by giving Hillary Clinton the delegates she needs to become America’s first female major party presidential candidate?

No doubt a lot rests on the shoulders of California voters on June 7, so there are some important things you need to know – and share – about voting rules in California:

Voter Beware:  California’s Presidential Primary is NOT Open  

 Many Californians believe that the Open Primary Act of 2011 guarantees them the opportunity to vote in either party. Wrong!  The Open Primary Act  DOES NOT apply to presidential primary elections.  

In California, each political party determines whether their party’s presidential primary is going to be open or closed.  The California Democratic Party has chosen an open presidential primary, therefore, anyone registered as a democrat, or those registered as “no party preference” (formerly “declined to state”) can vote in the Democratic Primary.  

The California Republican Party, however, has chosen a closed primary election, allowing only registered republicans to vote in the Republican Primary.

Independents, No Party Preference, and Declined to State:

If you are, or will be, registered as “No Party Preference”( NPP), or “Declined to State”, you will automatically receive a ballot that does will not include the presidential primary election.  Yikes!

You can request a Presidential Primary ballot  by contacting your county elections office or poll worker, at your polling place.  Since the Democratic Party’s primary  is open (but the Republican Party’s primary is not) NPP’s can only receive the Democratic ballot.  

If you are an NPP who wants to vote in the Republican Primary Election, you MUST re-register as a Republican. 

Voter Registration Deadline: May 23!

You can check your current party affiliation, or voter status,  by clicking here.   If you need to register, or re-register to vote, you can pick up an application at your local county elections office, library, DMV, or post office.  To register NOW, go online to the California Secretary of State’s Election Office.

More Voting Info… 

Three Reasons Why You May Need to Re-Register to Vote:  You’ve moved, you  have changed your name, or you want to change your party affiliation.  If this applies to you, you must register by midnight PST May 23, 2016 (15 days prior to election)  in order to qualify for the June 7 Primary Election. You can register online at the California Secretary of State Elections Office.

Absentee Ballots:  If you are already a registered California voter, you can request an absentee ballot, but the request must be received by May 31, 2016.  Get your application here.  

College Students:  As long as you qualify to vote, you can vote in California using your college address.  You cannot, however, be registered in two states during the same election cycle.  So, for example, if your home is in New Hampshire and you already voted, you cannot vote again in California.

Poll Workers Needed:   Adults and students 16 years of age or older are encouraged to contact their local county elections office to work at the polls on June 7! If you know of a student who might like to work on election day, have them check out the application here.  Schools are often very accommodating.  Check it out!