What was all that about the primary elections?
Image from livevoterturnout.com, taken on 3/25/24
This is my first year working on a congressional campaign, and only my second time voting, so I had a lot to learn about what the primary elections are, and what they mean in California.
Primary elections happen in March. The purpose of these elections is to choose candidates for the general elections in November. Usually, the one that gains the most attention is the presidential election, but this is also the time when we vote for congresspeople, senators, mayors, judges, school board officials, and other important offices in our local and national society.
In California, we voted—whether in person or by mail—on or before Super Tuesday. Super Tuesday is the first Tuesday in March during an election year, and on this day 16 states and one territory vote in the primaries. Local news stations will start “calling” races shortly after the polls close, but according to the Secretary of State, Shirley M. Weber, “these are only semi-official results based on the in-person ballots cast at voting locations on Election Day, any early voted ballots cast in person prior to Election Day, and any vote-by-mail ballots received and processed prior to Election Day.”
There is an official canvass period, which is the time all of the votes are counted and processed, that lasts for 30 days after the primary elections. At the time of this writing, we still have an estimated number of 3,026 ballots in San Joaquin County.
California has a “top-two” primary system, which means that, regardless of political party, whichever candidates are the top two in their category get to move on to the general election. According to the California Registrar of Voters website, this does not apply to presidential candidates or local offices.
Once the results are certified, we will know which candidates will be advancing to the general election. You will start to see a lot more political ads in the mail and on television. If you are interested in gaining firsthand experience with our democratic system, it will be a great time to reach out to your preferred candidate and see if they have any volunteer or paid positions open on their campaign. Speaking from experience, it can be an exciting and rewarding experience, and it’s an honor to get to engage with your community on that level.
Not registered to vote in California yet? Be ready for November. Click here to register.
Want to see the results of the primaries as they happen? Visit livevoterturnout.com
Disclaimer: Though the author of this piece works for a congressional candidate, the Pacifican is not affiliated with and does not endorse any candidate or political party. The purpose of this article is strictly informational.