Elections in California are held to fill various state and federal seats. In California, regular elections are held every even year (such as 2006 and 2008), however the seats being decided each year varies, as the terms of office for certain seats varies. Special elections are also held to fill certain seats at other points in time. Additionally, statewide referenda both initiatives and legislative referrals) and recall election can also be held.
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Elected offices
Federal
President
Every four years (since 1792), the United States holds an indirect election for President and Vice President. In such elections, voters cast their votes for a slate of representatives (electors) who have pledged to cast their votes for a particular presidential and vice presidential candidate (a ticket) in the Electoral College. During the election, the voters of the state select the slate of electors on the ballot by voting for the ticket that they are pledged to. The slate of electors pledged to the ticket with the most votes statewide gets to vote in the Electoral College. Although, the electors are not obligated to vote for the candidates they are pledged to, they usually do. The number of electors the state is allocated is equal to the number representatives in Congress that the state has (the members in the House of Representatives, plus the two senators).
Senate
House of Representatives
State
California has a gubernatorial election every four years and, in 2003, it had a recall election. Primary elections were held in March or June until 2008, when they were held in February. General elections, which cover state-wide issues, are held in November. On a county-by-county basis, elections also cover municipal issues. In addition, a special election can occur at any time.
Political parties
There are six qualified political parties:[1]
- American Independent Party
- Democratic Party (see also California Democratic Party)
- Green Party (see also Green Party of California)
- Libertarian Party (see also Libertarian Party of California)
- Peace and Freedom Party
- Republican Party (see also California Republican Party)
Due to the first-past-the-post electoral system used in California, only the Democratic Party and Republican Party currently have representation in the State Legislature. However, Audie Bock, a member of the Green Party, was elected in 1999 during what is known as special election musical chairs.
Local elections in California at the county and city level are officially non-partisan and political party affiliations are not included on local election ballots.
Future elections
- November 6, 2012: California state elections, November 2012
Past elections
See lists on the side for past election results.
Election law in California
See also
- Elections in the United States
- Electoral reform in California
- Government of California
- List of California ballot propositions
- List of California Governors
- Political party strength in California
- Politics of California
- U.S. Congressional Delegations from California
References
Bibliography
- California Secretary of State - On-Line Lists of Candidates
- JoinCalifornia - California Election Statistics
External links
- California Elections and Voter Information from the California Secretary of State official website
- California at Ballotpedia
- California Election Statistics One Voter Project
- Elections Information California Voter Foundation
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