California
Contents
Election Administration
Elections in California are administered by the California Secretary of State Elections and Voter Information.
The Secretary of State's Elections Division has a wide variety of responsibilities in administering elections in California. The division is responsible for everything from certifying the official lists of candidates to determining which types of voting systems are acceptable for use in California.
The Elections Division advises candidates and local elections officials on the qualifications and requirements for running for office, provides guidance on choosing acceptable candidate ballot designations, and determines the order of the candidates on the ballot.
The Elections Division tracks and certifies ballot initiatives. If a state measure goes on the ballot, the Elections Division has verified that it has met the requirements for placement.
Once those candidates are placed on the ballot, the Elections Division coordinates the tabulation of the votes from each county on election night. The Elections Division is responsible for producing the official Statements of Vote after each election. These are the official compilation of vote totals for a given election.
Our Division also has a comprehensive Voter Registration and Outreach Team. This team's scope of responsibilities include printing registration forms, encouraging registration and voter turnout, and producing several voter information publications.
Election Law
- Method for Choosing Presidential Electors: Statewide Popular Vote, Winner-Take-All
- Fusion Legal: No
Electoral College in California
Selection of Electors in California
On or before October 1 of the presidential election year, each party's nominee must file a list containing the names, addresses, and telephone numbers of the 55 electors pledges to him/her. Each party determines its own method for selecting electors.
In the Democratic Party, each congressional nominee and each US Senate nominee (determined by the last two elections) designates one elector.
In the Republican Party, the nominees for governor, lieutenant governor, treasurer, controller, attorney general, secretary of state, United States Senators (again, going back two elections) the Senate and Assembly GOP leaders, all elected officers of the GOP state central committee, the national committeeman and committeewoman, the president of the GOP county central committee chairmen's organization and the chair or president of each GOP volunteer organization officially recognized by the state central committee act as electors.
No incumbent Senators, congressional representatives or persons holding an office of trust or profit of the United States can serve as electors.
American Independent electors are selected at the party's nominating convention, as are those of the Green, Libertarian, Natural Law, and Peace & Freedom parties, who further specify a 50/50 ratio of men and women.
Electoral College Proceedings
Parties
Independent Candidates
Write-in Candidates
Ballot Position
Presidential Election Results
- California Presidential Election Results 2004 Summary Page
- California Presidential Election Results 2000 Summary Page
- California Presidential Election Results 1996 Summary Page
- California Presidential Election Results 1992 Summary Page
- California Presidential Election Results 1988 Summary Page
- California Presidential Election Results 1984 Summary Page
- California Presidential Election Results 1980 Summary Page
- California Presidential Election Results 1976 Summary Page
- California Presidential Election Results 1972 Summary Page
- California Presidential Election Results 1968 Summary Page
- California Presidential Election Results 1964 Summary Page
- California Presidential Election Results 1960 Summary Page
Gubernatorial Election Results
- California Gubernatorial Recall 2003 Summary Page
- California Gubernatorial Election Results 2002 Summary Page
- California Gubernatorial Election Results 1998 Summary Page
