Procrastinator’s guide to California’s primary election: What you need to know before voting

Andrew Sheeler
·4 min read
1
  • Oops!
    Something went wrong.
    Please try again later.
  • Oops!
    Something went wrong.
    Please try again later.

So you waited until now to vote in California’s March 5 primary election. That’s OK, you aren’t alone. And the good news is, it’s not too late.

Here’s everything you need to know before you vote:

What am I voting on?

This primary election includes contests for both the Democratic and Republican nominees to be the next President of the United States. It will also determine who goes on to the November election to fill the seat left vacant by the late Sen. Dianne Feinstein, who died last fall.

Voters will also decide which congressional and legislative candidates they wish to see move on to the November election.

Finally, voters are being asked to consider one ballot measure, Proposition 1, which does two things: It restructures the 2004 Mental Health Services Act to shift $140 million in behavioral health funding away the counties and toward the state, and it authorizes a $6.4 billion bond to build new mental health and substance abuse treatment centers as well as more housing for the homeless.

You can read all about the various races and elections in our voter guide.

When should I vote?

You have until 8 p.m. on March 5 to turn your ballot in at a voting center. If you mail your ballot in, it must be postmarked by Tuesday in order to be accepted. Mail-in ballots will be accepted until March 12.

You can track your ballot once it has been mailed in. Here’s how.

Who are the candidates?

In the presidential primaries, on the Democratic side the only serious candidate is the incumbent, President Joe Biden. Poll after poll shows Biden winning the California primary election, as well as take the state in the general election in November.

Biden’s likely opponent in November is former President Donald Trump, whom polls show set to win the Republican presidential primary against former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley.

A much closer race is that to fill the late Feinstein’s U.S. Senate seat, currently held by Sen. Laphonza Butler.

Butler is not running for reelection, meaning the seat is up for grabs, and the race for it has been a heated one.

Three Democratic members of Congress — Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Burbank, Rep. Katie Porter, D-Irvine, and Rep. Barbara Lee, D-Oakland — are vying with each other and Republican retired baseball star Steve Garvey to be the next senator from California. Only two will go on to the November general.

In Modesto, Mayor Sue Zwahlen, seeking a second term, is challenged by Sebastian Jones and Dewey Bedford Jr.

Stanislaus County ballots also include these races:

Assembly District 9: Republican incumbent Heath Flora of Ripon, challenged by Tami Nobriga, an American Independent and retired businesswoman from Lodi.

Assembly District 22: Republican incumbent Juan Alanis of Modesto, challenged by Democrat Jessica Self, a children’s advocate and businesswoman from Modesto.

U.S. Representative District 5: Republican incumbent Tom McClintock of El Dorado Hills, challenged by Democrat Michael Barkley, a lawyer and accountant from Manteca, and Steve Wozniak, a nonpartisan and business owner of Modesto.

U.S. Representative District 9: Democratic incumbent Josh Harder of Manteca, challenged by three Republicans: Khalid Jeffrey Jafri, an engineer and businessman from Tracy, Stockton Mayor Kevin Lincoln, and John McBride, an athletic performance coach from Stockton.

U.S. Representative District 13: Republican incumbent John Duarte of Hilmar, challenged by former Democratic Assemblyman Adam Gray of Merced.

Riverbank Unified School District: Measure N would reauthorize $2.1 million in bonds for school repairs and improving student safety. The measure requires 55% voter approval.

How do I check my voter registration?

All you have to do is visit this website.

While the voter registration deadline was Feb. 20, you can still conditionally register and vote in the primary election at your county elections office or polling place up to, and including, Election Day.

How can I vote in Stanislaus County?

You can take your ballot to one of the dropoff locations, or visit a vote center if you need assistance, such as requesting a new ballot. For more information, you can call the Stanislaus County Registrar of Voters and Elections Office at 209-525-5200.

Who’s telling the truth?