California elections: What to bring, when to get to the polls on Super Tuesday
Tuesday is an election day for California, when the residents of the nation's most populous state can cast their vote in this year's presidential primaries and weigh in on other statewide and local races.
From where to go and what to bring, to what, exactly, you can vote on, here's a handy guide to help you through the logistics of Super Tuesday.
When do polls open and close?
California's primary election is Super Tuesday, March 5. Polls are open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
More: Your guide to California's 2024 elections
Where do I go to vote?
If you are registered to vote, you can go to polling locations in your county.
To find locations, check the back of your county voter information guide or use the Secretary of State's polling look-up tool.
Those with mail-in ballots can also drop them off at listed polling locations on Election Day, or mail them in if they are postmarked before or on March 5.
More: California primary election 2024: How to vote in the presidential primary on Super Tuesday
You can also contact your county elections office, contact the Secretary of State's Voter Hotline at 800-345-8683 or visit voterstatus.sos.ca.gov for more information.
Where do I go to register to vote?
If you want to vote but aren't registered, California offers same-day voter registration at county election offices and polling locations. To find out where to go, use the Secretary of State's polling look-up tool by entering your address.
Are you registered but have moved recently? If you haven't reregistered with your new address, you will need to do that in person as well to participate in elections. If you have moved but stayed within the same county, Californians can cast a ballot at any vote center within their county.
Requirements to register to vote include holding U.S. citizenship, being a resident of California, being 18 or older on Election Day, and not currently serving a state or federal prison term for the conviction of a felony.
What should I bring with me?
If you're registered to vote, simply bring yourself, your mail-in ballot if you have one, and any election guides you may want to help guide you through the process. Generally, California voters are not required to show identification before casting their ballot.
However, there are a few cases in which identification may be required, including if you are a first-time voter.
You can review the complete list of the acceptable forms of voter identification to use at a polling place when voting for the first time or call the Secretary of State's toll-free Voter Hotline at (800) 345- VOTE (8683) for more information.
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What will be on my ballot?
Expect to see races for presidential nominations, a U.S. Senate seat and a statewide proposition, along with local races depending on your location.
Votes cast in the primary elections will help determine the Republican and Democratic presidential nominees. This year’s primary is the first time in decades Californians will get to cast a ballot for an open U.S. Senate seat, following the death of Sen. Dianne Feinstein in September. Voters statewide will also weigh in on a proposition championed by Gov. Gavin Newsom that would commit billions of dollars to mental health services.
More: California's Prop 1 could revamp state's mental health system. Here's what to know.
Unlike the presidential primary, the state holds nonpartisan primaries for Senate, allowing voters to throw their support behind any candidate regardless of party. The top two candidates advance to the general election. There will be two U.S. Senate contests on the primary ballot this year. The first contest listed on the ballot is for a regular six-year term ending in 2031, with more than two dozen candidates. The second is for the remainder of the Feinstein's term, ending Jan. 3, 2025.
California voters will also see Proposition 1 on their ballot. The two-part initiative is meant to overhaul the state's mental health system via a $6.4 billion bond, which would focus on funding new mental health treatment facilities and housing for those with mental health conditions experiencing, or at risk of, homelessness.
More: Don't be fooled: 5 types of misinformation we expect this election season
How do I follow election results?
Preliminary results will begin to be announced shortly after the polls close at 8 p.m.
Check back on the Desert Sun's elections page to follow live Election Day coverage and results.
Kathryn Palmer is the California 2024 Elections Fellow for USA TODAY. Reach her at kapalmer@gannett.com and follow her on X @KathrynPlmr.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: California election: What to bring to the polls
