Ventura County voters will get their first chance to cast a ballot in California’s primary starting May 4.
That’s when hundreds of thousands of ballots will be mailed to registered voters and early in-person voting starts at the Ventura County Government Center. It will kick off nearly a month of voting on a slate that includes key state and federal posts, several local contests that could be decided in June and a crowded race for California’s next governor.
“I think it’s an especially important election for Californians, with a very competitive gubernatorial election that will decide which two candidates go forward to the general,” said Tim Allison, an adjunct political science professor at CSU Channel Islands.
“It has an impact in terms of who the voters will be able to choose from in November,” he said.
The top two vote-getters typically go onto a fall runoff for state and federal offices. Meanwhile, a candidate for county-level office could win the seat outright in June with more than 50% of the votes. If no candidate earns more than half of the votes, the top two finishers also advance to the general.
Here’s what to know.
When is the California primary?
The last day to vote in person or return a ballot is June 2. Vote centers will open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day.
How to vote in the California primary?
All registered voters will receive a mail-in ballot, and those ballots will be sent out starting May 4. That’s the same day early in-person voting begins in the elections office at the Ventura County Government Center, 800 S. Victoria Ave. in Ventura.
Additional locations will open for voting throughout the county closer to Election Day. The county uses an election model that includes more in-person voting days but fewer voting locations. Voters also can cast their ballot at any center in the county, not just the one closest to them.
For more information, visit vote.venturacounty.gov or contact the elections office at 805-654-2664 or elections@venturacounty.gov.
How do I register to vote?
To register to vote online, go to sos.ca.gov/elections/voter-registration/ by May 18. To have a form mailed to you, call Ventura County elections staff at 805-654-2664.
In California, people can register to vote through Election Day, but it has to be done in person starting May 19.
Who’s running in the California primary?
Local voters will be asked to choose from more than a dozen candidates vying to fill key Ventura County offices and a long list of state and federal posts, from governor to congressional representatives. County seats run the gamut, from superintendent of schools to tax collector.
“We even have a judicial election, which we don’t always have, and that will be decided in June because there’s only two candidates,” Allison said.
A candidate list is available at venturavote.org.
How do I check if I’m registered?
Elections officials urged people to check their registration status and information online at voterstatus.sos.ca.gov. In Ventura County, if you don’t see your ballot in the mail by May 14, officials said to check with the elections office at 805-654-2664.
How can I turn in my ballot?
For the June election, a ballot can be:
When can I vote in person?
While early voting starts at the elections division in Ventura on May 4, vote centers start to open May 23. The initial spots will be available from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, including on Memorial Day. Then, additional locations will open starting on May 30.
On Election Day, vote centers will open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. For more information and a list of locations, visit clerkrecorder.venturacounty.gov/elections/elections/vote-centers/.
How can I make sure my ballot gets counted?
One of the most common reasons a ballot doesn’t get counted is that it arrives too late, officials said. Voters can sign up to track their ballot at wheresmyballot.sos.ca.gov to find out when it is mailed, received and counted.
Have a question about registering, ballots or in-person voting that you want to get answered? Send an email to cheri.carlson@vcstar.com and we will try to get them answered in a future story.
Cheri Carlson is a reporter for the Ventura County Star. Reach her at cheri.carlson@vcstar.com.
This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Everything you need to know about the primary election in Ventura County
Reporting by Cheri Carlson, Ventura County Star / Ventura County Star
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
