California Online Voter Guide

June 2008 Statewide Primary Election

16th edition

About this guide

Click on the tabs above to enter the California Online Voter Guide, a nonpartisan clearinghouse of election information and web site links. This edition covers the state legislative and congressional primary candidates and statewide ballot measures.

About This Election

Election Results

California's Statewide Primary is Tuesday, June 3.

Polls open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m.

Voters who prefer to vote by mail can request a Vote by Mail ballot.

Unsure of your voter registration status? Looking for your polling place? Contact your county election office.

See CVF's Voting FAQ for more information about voting in California.

CVF's Map of California Voting Systems and County-by-County Directory of Voting Systems provide details about each county's voting system.

Deadlines

Last Day to Register to Vote - May 19, 2008
First Day to Request a Vote by Mail Ballot - May 5, 2008
Last Day to Request a Vote by Mail Ballot - May 27, 2008

What's on the Ballot?

Voters in all 53 U.S. House districts, all 80 State Assembly districts and twenty (half) of the State Senate districts will decide which candidates will represent their parties on the November 2008 General Election ballot. Two statewide propositions will also be decided. Many voters will have local candidates or measures on their ballots as well. (Check your county's sample ballot and the League of Women Voters' SmartVoter web site for information on local contests.)

Follow the Money

The California Online Voter Guide identifies the top donors for and against each of the statewide propositions on the ballot. Visit CVF's "How to Follow the Money" page for information on researching state and federal campaign finances.

New Rules for Voting in the Party Primaries

There are six parties fielding candidates in this election. Voters who are registered as “Decline to State” and are unaffiliated with any political party should be aware of the participation rules adopted by parties for the June 3rd election.

The Democratic, Republican and American Independent parties will permit "Decline to State" voters to participate in their primary elections.

"Decline to State" voters who want to vote in a partisan primary must request a partisan ballot by mail or at the polls.

California voters who wish to cast ballots in the Libertarian, Green or Peace & Freedom parties' primaries must be registered to vote with those parties.

For more information, please visit the Secretary of State’s Decline to State Voter Information web page or view CVF’s Voting FAQ page.

Official Sample Ballots and Voter Guides

If you are a registered voter, your county registrar will mail you an Official Sample Ballot providing your polling place location, a Vote By Mail ballot application and information on any local contests on your ballot. In addition, the Secretary of State mails out the Voter Information Guide covering statewide propositions. These two publications provide the basic information you need to prepare to vote; if you haven't received them, contact your county election office.

Additional Web Resources

Visit CVF's Elections index page for additional election-related resources and archived editions of the California Online Voter Guide. CVF recommends the following nonpartisan election web sites:

Secretary of State's official Voter Information Guide

Secretary of State's My Voice, My Choice, My Vote web site

The League of Women Voter's Easy Voter Guide and SmartVoter web site

Around the Capitol's Election Track featuring up-to-date campaign contribution data

CVF and the Commonwealth Club's How To Host An Election House Party guide

Resources for military and overseas voters: www.overseasvotefoundation.org

Was this guide helpful?

Do you have suggestions, questions, or feedback? Please contact CVF. If you found this guide helpful, please consider making a contribution to help support CVF's nonpartisan voter education work.