What are the Democratic Party's voting recommendations?
You can view all our endorsements for the primary election at sddems.link/vote.
Why is there no Party endorsement for multiple statewide offices, as well as Congressional District 48?
Endorsements for state and federal offices are made by the California Democratic Party, and the San Diego County Democratic Party adopts those endorsements. When delegates voted on races for Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Treasurer, Insurance Commissioner, Superintendent of Public Instruction, Board of Equalization District 4, and Congressional District 48, no single candidate reached the required 60% threshold needed for an endorsement.
How should I vote in races where there's no Party endorsement?
For these races, please vote for the Democrat of your choice. The party preference of the candidates for those offices is listed on the ballot. For a list of Democrats running in statewide seats, and more information on them, please visit sddems.link/state.
The Party has endorsements in two out of five judicial races on the ballot. How should I vote in the three other races?
The Party has endorsed in the two contested judicial races: Jodi Cleesattle for Office 31, and Tia Ramirez for Office 32. In the other three races, candidates are running unopposed. They will win, but are still required to appear on the ballot as non-incumbents. Laurie Hauf in Office 34 is a Democrat; the candidates in Offices 11 and 18 are No Party Preference.
Is there a risk that Republicans could lock out Democrats in the governor's race?
While theoretically possible under California's "top two" primary system, that risk has been greatly reduced in recent weeks. The withdrawal of one high-profile Democratic candidate distributed most of that support to other Democrats in the race, and the majority of undecided voters are expected to break toward Democrats as well. The most important thing anyone can do right now is to turn in their ballot as soon as possible. . Should voters wait to return their ballots in case there are more developments in the governor's race?
No. Almost all public polls now show two Democrats vying for the place in the runoff against the leading Republican. One of those Democrats will ultimately get more votes. In fact, there are very important reasons to urge people to vote earlier than they otherwise might this year.
Under California law, ballots postmarked by Election Day are counted even if they’re not received by officials until a few days after that. However, the U.S. Postal Service has recently announced logistical changes that could delay the application of postmarks after ballots are dropped off in the mail. In addition, the U.S. Supreme Court in March heard a challenge to the legality of any mail-in votes being counted after Election Day. That decision could be announced at any time, and if they overturn the law in California and the 28 other states that have similar provisions, some votes that would otherwise be counted might not be.
How can I turn in my ballot?
All active registered voters received a ballot by mail around the week of May 4.
To return your ballot, you have three options:
Mail it back. Be sure to sign and date the outer envelope. A stamp is not required, but your ballot must be postmarked no later than June 2nd to be counted.
Drop it off. Return your ballot to one of many drop-off locations around the county by 8:00 p.m. on June 2nd. To find a map of drop-off sites and their hours, visit sddems.link/dropoff
Visit a Vote Center. If you prefer to vote in person, you can bring your mail ballot to fill out at the Vote Center or use a ballot-marking device there. Starting Saturday, May 23, a selection of Vote Centers will be open daily, and all Vote Centers will open on Saturday, May 30, through Tuesday, June 2. Vote Center hours are from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily, with extended hours on June 2 from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. To find a map of Vote center locations, visit sddems.link/votecenters.
Can I return another voter's ballot for them?
Yes. Anyone can return any voter's ballot using the same methods above, as long as you are not paid to do so. Just print and sign your name on the envelope where indicated.
Can I still register to vote?
The deadline for online and paper registration is May 18. Please visit registertovote.ca.gov for online registration. After May 18, eligible voters can still register (or re-register) at a Vote Center, and will receive a ballot on the spot. Your vote will be recorded once your registration is confirmed and processed.
Republicans are attacking free and fair elections. What’s the Democratic Party's plan to for voter protection?
San Diego Democrats are working with the California Democratic Party and community partners to support a poll-monitoring, reporting, and response system — and San Diego is one of the priority counties in this statewide effort. To sign up as a poll monitor or volunteer attorney, visit sddems.link/protect. To report any incidents of intimidation, harassment, or electioneering at a voting location, call the CADEM Voter Protection Hotline at (877) 321-8683.
How can I volunteer in this election? Volunteer opportunities through the San Diego County Democratic Party are listed at sddems.link/action. We'd love your help informing and turning out voters all the way through Election Day!
