With just a week until Election Day and only 8% of ballots returned so far, millions of California voters are still making up their minds about the election. But here at CalMatters, we listen, we don’t judge — so we have a last-minute voter guide to catch you up on what you need to know, such as:
Who’s ahead in the polls?
The latest Democratic Party poll shows Republican Steve Hilton and Democrat Xavier Becerra leading with 22% and 21% respectively, and Tom Steyer in third at 15%.
What’s an open primary and why do we have it?
California’s open primary allows the two candidates who receive the most votes to move on to the general election in November, no matter what party they belong to. The state adopted this system after voters approved Proposition 14 in 2010, which allows voters to pick any candidate in a primary, regardless of their own party affiliation.
This system allows two candidates from the same political party to potentially advance, which is a real possibility this year because of the sheer number of candidates running for governor and the fact that there’s no clear frontrunner.
Is it too late to vote by mail?
Mailed ballots must be postmarked on or before Election Day and received by election offices within seven days. To make sure your ballot is counted, it’s best to mail your ballot at least five days before June 2, or Thursday.
How can I vote on Election Day?
Besides mailing it in, you can submit your ballot at a drop-off location or vote in-person at the polls from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Find your nearest polling place here and your closest ballot drop-off location here.
Check out our last-minute voter guide here. And for more comprehensive info, read CalMatters’ full voter guide, which has the lowdown on other statewide offices, state legislative races and congressional elections, as well as a governor Q&A with the leading candidates.