2022 June 7th Primary Election FAQ

Updated 5/15/2022

An informed voter is an engaged voter. To help you stay informed, we will update this page regularly.

 

WHEN IS THE 2022 PRIMARY ELECTION?

JUNE 7, 2022   https://www.placercountyelections.gov/

HOW TO VOTE: Mail your ballot, place it in a drop box, (link to follow) or go to your polling place on June 7th.

 WILL EVERYONE RECEIVE A MAIL-IN BALLOT, EVEN IF IT’S NOT REQUESTED?

YES. Per AB-37, signed by Governor Newsom in September 2021, all registered voters in California will receive a mail-in ballot. Voters can complete and mail their ballot, place it in an official drop box, or bring to the polling place on June 7th to vote in-person. https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voter-registration/vote-mail

 HOW DO I CHECK MY VOTER REGISTRATION?

It’s easy to verify your voter registration and to check that your most current address is correct. Use this link through the Placer County Registrar of Voters

https://www.placercountyelections.gov/am-i-registered/

It is wise to check your registration status before every election. We recommend that you check it anytime you have contact with DMV since some voters have had changes to their voter registration after obtaining DMV services.

 

WHAT IS CALIFORNIA’S “JUNGLE PRIMARY” ELECTION?

There are often multiple candidates for an office. The Primary Election determines the voters’ choice of the top two candidates in a race. In California, the top two candidates receiving the most votes advance to the General Election on November 8, 2022. This primary system is sometimes referred to as the “jungle primary” because the party affiliation of the two top candidates is not a factor in who advances to the General Election, only the number of votes received. It is possible to have two candidates of the same political party competing for the same office on the General Election ballot.

https://politicaldictionary.com/words/jungle-primary/

 

IS IT IMPORTANT TO VOTE IN THE PRIMARY?

YES! Precisely because of the jungle-style structure of our Primary, your vote is crucial to help our candidates of choice move forward to the General Election.
Skipping the primary can result in having a preferred candidate fail to qualify for the November election because they didn’t receive enough votes in the Primary.

 

I’M NOT REGISTERED. CAN I STILL REGISTER FOR THE JUNE PRIMARY?

YES! Here are some important dates to remember:

April 28 to May 17 — Voters should get in the mail a physical copy of the voter guide by the Secretary of State's Office. During this time, counties should also be mailing voter guides specific to their area for local races.

May 9 — Voters should start receiving vote-by-mail ballots in the mail. From this day to June 6, early voting for the Primary Election begins.

May 10 to June 7 — Ballot drop-off locations should open in all counties.

May 23 — This will be the last day to register to vote for the primary election.

May 24 to June 7 — By California law, any voter whose qualifications cannot be immediately verified can cast a ballot provisionally. This process involves comparing the signature of the provisional ballot with the signature on the voter's affidavit of registration to ensure the person is properly registered to vote.

June 7 — This is Election Day. Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., and voters can physically cast their vote at a polling place. Vote-by-mail ballots are only valid if they are postmarked on or before Election Day.

IF YOU MISS THE REGISTRATION DEADLINE OF MAY 23RD, YOU CAN STILL VOTE IN THE JUNE PRIMARY. YOU CAN REGISTER AT THE POLLS ON JUNE 7TH AND CAST A  PROVISIONAL BALLOT.

WHEN WILL THE VOTER’S GUIDE BE MAILED TO ME?

Around April 28th, voters will start to receive in their mail the official Voter Guide from the office of the California Secretary of State. But the ONLINE GUIDE is available now.

WHEN WILL I RECEIVE MY MAIL-IN BALLOT?

Voters will begin to receive their Vote-By-Mail Ballot on Monday, May 9th. Given the challenges of timely mail delivery, it may take several days after 5/9 before you receive your ballot. If you don’t receive your ballot, the Placer County Registrar of Voter’s Office asks you to:

“Contact the Elections Office at 530-886-5650 or toll free in California at 1-800-824-8683 to confirm that you are currently registered and the date your ballot was mailed out. If necessary, we can send you a replacement ballot.”

 I WOULD RATHER USE A DROP BOX THAN MAIL MY BALLOT. HOW DO I FIND THE DROP BOXES?

The Placer County Registrar of Voters has 32 locations throughout Placer County for voters to drop off their ballots to be counted. Find the locations here.

NOW THAT I’VE RETURNED MY BALLOT, HOW DO I KNOW IT HAS BEEN RECEIVED AND COUNTED?

You’re in luck! You can receive information that information by email, text, and/or voice mail.   Sign up for the Where’s My Ballot tracker for peace of mind.

I PREFER TO VOTE AT THE POLLS BUT I DON’T KNOW WHERE?

Use this link from the Placer County Registrar of Voters to find your polling place. Be sure to bring your mail ballot with you. You will be required to surrender your mail ballot to receive another ballot.

ALEX PADILLA IS ON THE BALLOT TWICE. WHY? DO I VOTE TWICE?

Senator Padilla was appointed by Governor Newsom to complete the Senate term of now Vice-President Kamala Harris. The special election is to certify that appointment and allow Padilla to complete the term.

Padilla is also running for his own Senate term. As such, he is on the ballot for a complete six year term 2023-2028.

So, yes, you need to vote in both the special election and the primary election.

It’s confusing but required. More information here in this article from CAP RADIO (NPR)

YOU CAN FIND EVEN MORE ANSWERS TO YOUR QUESTIONS IN THIS KQED ARTICLE.

Return to this page frequently for updates on important dates and information.

#BeAVoter                #PlacerDems