# California primary election **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [April 14, 2016, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/california-primary-election/752217 "2016-04-14T20:17:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2016, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/california-primary-election/752217/1 "2016-04-14T20:17:26Z")
_The Sacramento Bee_ gave a rundown this morning of how California delegates are chosen for both parties. The Republican delegates are pretty straightforward, but the Democrats are very complicated. **Republican** : Total delegates: 172 Three delegates each to the winner of each Congressional district, for a total of 159. 10 at large delegates go to the candidate who receives the most votes statewide. Three pre-determined delegates - the state Republican Party Chairman and two state National Committeeman and -woman. **Democrat** : Total delegates: 546 317 delegates allocated by Congressional district based on population and presidential voting in prior elections. (It isn’t clear if this is just population by census, or by the number of registered Democrats) 105 at-large delegates confirmed at a statewide delegation meeting on June 19 and subject to approval by the presidential candidate they pledge to support (this is very vague) 53 party leaders and elected officials, including big-city mayors, statewide elected officials and legislative leaders. 71 Unpledged superdelegates, including the Governor and members of Congress. The article also says that there will be a mandatory meeting of all Republican delegates in Los Angeles on June 25. The cost for each Democratic delegate to stay in Philadelphia for the convention will run $3600 to $4100 per delegate. The cost for each Republican delegate to stay in Cleveland for the convention will run $3000 to $6000 per delegate (plus, presumably, the cost of the mandatory Los Angeles meeting). ---
**Author:** ![The\_Devil\_s\_Grandmother](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/74df32/32.png) [@The\_Devil\_s\_Grandmother](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Devil_s_Grandmother)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2016, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/california-primary-election/752217/2 "2016-04-14T20:33:10Z")
For California residents eligible to vote and not registered yet, please use [http://registertovote.ca.gov/](http://registertovote.ca.gov/) to register before May 23rd for the California primary. Yes, I know the presidential primaries may be all sewn up by then, but there are several other very important races to consider. Other voter California information here: [Voter Registration :: California Secretary of State](http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voter-registration) USA residents eligible to vote and not registered yet, please use [https://vote.usa.gov/](https://vote.usa.gov/) ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2016, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/california-primary-election/752217/3 "2016-04-14T21:07:28Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > _The Sacramento Bee_ gave a rundown this morning of how California delegates are chosen for both parties. The Republican delegates are pretty straightforward, but the Democrats are very complicated. … [Same allocation method](http://www.thegreenpapers.com/P16/D-Alloc.phtml) as \*every other state \*Dem side. That’s the Green Papers and they go into quite a bit of detail. California as a late state gets a 20% bonus number of delegates compared to early states. Some that day also get a “cluster” bonus of another 15% (Both of the Dakotas and Montana.) Too early for polls to be meaningful. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2016, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/california-primary-election/752217/4 "2016-04-14T21:11:01Z")
> [@](#): > > 53 party leaders and elected officials, including big-city mayors, statewide elected officials and legislative leaders. > 71 Unpledged superdelegates, including the Governor and members of Congress. Aren’t the former a subset of the latter? ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2016, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/california-primary-election/752217/5 "2016-04-14T21:30:22Z")
Apparently not. That confused me as well, but they are different counts, so I guess not. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2016, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/california-primary-election/752217/6 "2016-04-14T22:16:06Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > Apparently not. That confused me as well, but they are different counts, so I guess not. They are both Party Leaders and Elected Officials (PLEOs) - one is the pledged group and the other the unpledged group (the superdelegates). ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2016, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/california-primary-election/752217/7 "2016-04-14T23:29:05Z")
It’s so strange having a primary vote that can actually matter!! IIRC, The Republican primary is closed (registered Republicans only), but the Democratic one is open. Is that right? I’m not registered to a party, so I have to vote Democrat. It might have been more interesting to vote against Trump. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2016, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/california-primary-election/752217/8 "2016-04-14T23:50:32Z")
[Relevant article about the Pub primary.](http://www.salon.com/2016/04/12/countdown_to_the_gop_primarys_final_showdown_why_california_could_decide_who_wins_the_nomination_and_why_thats_bad_news_for_republicans/) In a nutshell, California is so overwhelmingly blue that its GOP is reduced to a remnant of RW cranks . . . and those are the people who will be deciding whether to give the state’s vast number of delegates to Trump or Crus. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2016, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/california-primary-election/752217/9 "2016-04-15T13:52:35Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > [Relevant article about the Pub primary.](http://www.salon.com/2016/04/12/countdown_to_the_gop_primarys_final_showdown_why_california_could_decide_who_wins_the_nomination_and_why_thats_bad_news_for_republicans/) In a nutshell, California is so overwhelmingly blue that its GOP is reduced to a remnant of RW cranks . . . and those are the people who will be deciding whether to give the state’s vast number of delegates to Trump or Crus. But just to be clear, CA is not a winner-take-all state. Still, all the polls I’ve seen show Trump in a comfortable lead among Republicans. ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2016, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/california-primary-election/752217/10 "2016-04-15T16:17:43Z")
Hurray our vote matters this year! > [@BrainGlutton](#): > > [Relevant article about the Pub primary.](http://www.salon.com/2016/04/12/countdown_to_the_gop_primarys_final_showdown_why_california_could_decide_who_wins_the_nomination_and_why_thats_bad_news_for_republicans/) In a nutshell, California is so overwhelmingly blue that its GOP is reduced to a remnant of RW cranks . . . and those are the people who will be deciding whether to give the state’s vast number of delegates to Trump or Crus. There’s a fair number of cranks but also a sizeable number of non-cranks. The problem with this state for the GOP nominee is that its so large and spread out that if you want to ensure a good haul of delegates, you have to campaign all over and spend a lot of money. With smaller states, you can just hit “Iowa” or “Nebraska” and do well enough in a big population to get enough delegates, but here you must appeal from everyone to LA Republicans to Fresno Republicans to Orange County Republicans and all of their votes are equal. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2016, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/california-primary-election/752217/11 "2016-04-15T16:54:14Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > It’s so strange having a primary vote that can actually matter!! > > IIRC, The Republican primary is closed (registered Republicans only), but the Democratic one is open. Is that right? Surprisingly, to me, that does seem to be the case according to the green papers. Republican side is party only but Dem side is members and independents. I thought that since the State fixed the rules for primary voting that woukd be the same for both sides. Though if you really want to vote against Trump for some crazy reason you should look into how late you can register as a Republican to get in. Some States let you register as you pick up your ballot. ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2016, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/california-primary-election/752217/12 "2016-04-15T17:35:25Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > Though if you really want to vote against Trump for some crazy reason you should look into how late you can register as a Republican to get in. Some States let you register as you pick up your ballot. The registration deadline for the June 7 primary is May 23. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2016, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/california-primary-election/752217/13 "2016-04-15T17:50:24Z")
> [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](#): > > The registration deadline for the June 7 primary is May 23. That’s voter registration deadline but I don’t think that necessarily is the same deadline as when you had to sign up for the party to be eligible. It’s my understanding that in New York voter registration was until March 23rd but to be eligible to vote in the Republican primary you had to have been a registered Republican since last October. ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2016, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/california-primary-election/752217/14 "2016-04-15T18:52:51Z")
I think I read that the Democratic primary in New York is also open to independents, but the Republican primary is closed. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2016, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/california-primary-election/752217/15 "2016-04-15T19:01:02Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > Surprisingly, to me, that does seem to be the case according to the green papers. Republican side is party only but Dem side is members and independents. I thought that since the State fixed the rules for primary voting that woukd be the same for both sides. Though if you really want to vote against Trump for some crazy reason you should look into how late you can register as a Republican to get in. Some States let you register as you pick up your ballot. The California law is as follows: People who are registered as “Non-Partisan” \* can either select a non-partisan ballot or they can choose the ballot of any of the other parties _so long as the party explicitly allows it_. At the moment, the parties that allow it are the Dems and two third parties that I can’t recall. I am a Non-Partisan who votes absentee. A few months before the election, I get a post card sent to me that I mail back with my choice of ballot. I always choose Democratic. \*Not “Independent.” There is a thing called the American Independent Party that is a minor third party. ---
**Author:** ![Bone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bone/32/407_2.png) [@Bone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bone)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2016, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/california-primary-election/752217/16 "2016-04-15T19:06:27Z")
I’m curious why the polls only vs. the polls plus results at 538 are so lopsided on the Republican side in CA. That seems strange. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2016, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/california-primary-election/752217/17 "2016-04-15T19:17:13Z")
> [@Bone](#): > > I’m curious why the polls only vs. the polls plus results at 538 are so lopsided on the Republican side in CA. That seems strange. That is funny. It’s almost aa mirror flip between Trump and Cruz. Since Trump is polling well I can only assume that all the extra factors that go in to polls plus are in Cruz’s favour. e.g. Cruz’s endorsements and Trump’s recent string of losses. ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2016, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/california-primary-election/752217/18 "2016-04-19T00:09:38Z")
A recent poll in California shows that 73% of California voters registered as members of the American Independent Party thought they were registering as independents. Voters registered as independent will be allowed to vote in the Democratic primary, but if you’re registered as an American Independent, you can only vote in the AIP primary. > **[Are you an independent voter? You aren't if you checked this box](https://static.latimes.com/american-independent-party-california-voters/)** > > The American Independent Party is California's largest third party. A poll shows 73% may be in it by mistake. Are you one of them? ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2016, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/california-primary-election/752217/19 "2016-04-19T00:19:10Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > That’s voter registration deadline but I don’t think that necessarily is the same deadline as when you had to sign up for the party to be eligible. What’s the difference? The big two American parties have no membership rolls or cards or dues – you “join” by registering to vote as R or D and there is no other way to join. ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2016, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/california-primary-election/752217/20 "2016-05-13T18:59:37Z")
I just got my California primary ballot (we’re in a mail-in only precinct). There are _ **34** _ candidates for US Senate. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/california-primary-election/752217.md?page=2)