BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — California is approaching an election milestone as the state joins 13 other states in the 2020 presidential primary March 3, or Super Tuesday.
The state is voting earlier than its usual June primary in an effort to give the state more of an edge come election season.
Some voters have already received their mail-in ballots, which counties started sending on Feb. 3, but don't understand some of the changes. Here's a breakdown:
- In order to vote with the Republican, Green, or the Peace and Freedom Party, you must register or re-register as a member of that party by Feb. 18. If you miss that deadline, you can still register in-person at your local polling place.
- You do not need to be a member of the Democratic, American Independent, or Libertarian parties to vote in their primaries. But you have to request the ballot you want.
- If you got a postcard from your Registrar of Voters, it means you are currently registered to vote as "no party preference." Choose the party you'd like to vote under then mail the postcard back in.
- No party preference voters who do not mail back the postcard will be mailed a non-partisan ballot. It will not have any presidential candidates listed.
To understand more about the primary election, watch this video by CalMatters.org:
