Voting centers will be expanded, you can vote in anyone within the county, and all voters will be sent a ballot by mail
The number of voters with the new changes is expected to increase. (archive)
Photo:
Aurelia Ventura / Impremedia / La Opinion
We are less than three months from the primary elections in California, did you know that you will be able to vote from any voting center and not only in the box near your home? Find out about this and other changes that are coming in 2020 in the voting system.
To get started, Beginning in 2020, all elections in California, at the local, state and presidential levels, will be held on the same day.
The primary election is Tuesday, March 3, but you can start voting from February 22 at the polling stations.
This is not new, but it is important to remember that only the candidates who win more than 50% of the votes in the primaries will be the absolute winners of a seat. But if no one gets the majority, the two candidates with the highest number of votes will face each other in the general election of November 3, 2020.
Voters registered without a preference party may choose between the Democratic, Libertarian, and American Independent parties in the primary election.
Expand voting centers
Now you can vote from any voting center within your county, you will no longer have to pay only in the box that corresponds to your address.
Californians may register to vote on the same day of the election in the polls and in the voting centers according to SB 72, a new legislation signed by Governor Gavin Newsom. The hope that this will motivate more people to vote not only in the presidential race but also in local campaigns.
In addition, voters will be allowed to change parties at the last minute. This process began last year, but registration could only be done at the county election offices.
It is estimated that about six million Californians will be eligible to vote, but only 5.1 million are registered. With last minute voter registration, it is expected to reduce the low participation.
Mail ballots for everyone
Another important change is provided by measure SB 450 that authorizes counties to send each voter a ballot with the list of places where the polling stations and voting centers are located in the county.
In 2018, Madera, Napa, Nevada, Sacramento and San Mateo counties successfully launched this new law.
For the 2020 election, ten counties will be added to the Voter, Amador, Butte, Calaveras, El Dorado, Mariposa, Tuolumne, Fresno, Santa Clara, Orange and Los Angeles Options Act.
So In Los Angeles, by the beginning of February all those registered to vote must receive a ballot by mail.
For the Los Angeles Council, there are 17 candidates competing for seven seats; 11 others seek positions on the Los Angeles Unified School District Board.
The only two incumbents who have no opposition are: George McKenna of the Los Angeles Unified School District Board; and councilor Marqueece Harris-Dawson.
