Background

California became the 31st state of the United States of America on September 9, 1850. As part of a democratic country, California is governed by officials elected by its citizens. There are three basic types of elections–primary, general, and local elections–as well as special elections. Primary elections allow voters registered to a political party to vote for candidates they’d like to see in the general election in November. The statewide general election is held every two years–on even numbered years–in November on the first Tuesday after the first Monday. The Presidential general election is held on the same date, but only every four years. Local elections can be part of the ballot on the general elections, but may also have separate elections held at their discretion (Source: CAvotes.org).

This guide will provide you with resources to help you learn more about how voting works in the state of California. It will be most useful as you learn about civic participation and prepare to vote in upcoming elections. In California, you are able to pre-register to vote at 16, and then you are automatically registered to vote on your 18th birthday. You will not be able to vote until you turn 18 years old (Source: SOS.CA.GOV).

Who is eligible to vote?

To register to vote in California, you must be:

• A United States citizen
• A resident of California
• 18 years old or older on Election Day (or 16 and 17 years old to pre-register to vote) 
• Not currently serving a state or federal prison term 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: Persons with a Criminal History)
• Not currently found mentally incompetent to vote by a court (for more information, please see Voting Rights: Persons Subject to Conservatorship

(Source: SOS.CA.GOV)

Who represents me?

You can find the current elected officials who directly represent you on usa.gov. Just follow the link below and enter your street address. Your results will include the federal officials who represent you and your state in Washington, DC., your state officials who represent you in your state capital, and your local officials who represent you in your county and city. Each official's website and contact information is also available. 

Find and contact elected officials

What is the Electoral College? | National Archives

This resource from the National Archives provides information on the electoral college process. It explains how electors are distributed among states, how electors are chosen, and what happens during and after a general election. 

Total Electoral Votes: 538

Majority Needed to Elect: 270

Current allocations for the 2024 and 2028 presidential election: 

CALIFORNIA: 54 VOTES (Source: archives.gov)

What are the different types of ballot measures in California?

Check out these resources to learn more about the different types of ballot measures and how they end up on the ballot:

Ballot Measures | sos.ca.gov

Types of ballot measures in California | Ballotpedia