Elections

Registered with a Party? Make Sure It Matches Presidential Candidate You Want

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Over two-thirds of San Diego County’s 1.8 million registered voters are registered with a political party. If you’re one of them, be aware you can vote only on that party’s slate of presidential candidates in the March 3, 2020 primary election. To vote for a presidential candidate in another party, you need to re-register with that party.

Positive you’re registered with a particular party? If you visited the Department of Motor Vehicles in the last two years, double-check your registration to see that the Registrar has your most up-to-date information on record. If not, you need to re-register.

By making sure, you will get the party ballot you want at your assigned poll. If you vote by mail, checking your registration, and if necessary re-registering, before Jan. 6 will allow the Registrar’s office to send you your choice of ballot when they are mailed out the week of Feb. 3.

Nonpartisan voters will not see a race for president on their ballot unless they act. To vote for president, they have several options depending on which candidate they want.

Political parties set the following rules. Nonpartisan voters can request a ballot from the American Independent, Democratic or Libertarian parties to vote for a presidential candidate in one of those parties.

The Green, Peace and Freedom, and Republican parties have chosen to not allow nonpartisan voters to participate in their presidential primaries. To vote for one of these presidential primary candidates, nonpartisan voters must re-register to vote with that party.

No matter what your party preference, all registered voters will be allowed to vote on all of the non-party related contests.

For more information, call (858) 565-5800 or visit sdvote.com.

Tracy DeFore is a communications specialist with the County of San Diego Communications Office. Contact