California elections, 2022

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2022 Elections

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This page is an overview of the 2022 California elections, including the offices on the ballot covered by Ballotpedia, election dates, and frequently asked questions.

<< California elections, 2021 | California elections, 2023 >>

## Contents

* 1 Offices on the ballot
* 2 Election dates
* 2.1 Statewide election dates
* 2.2 Local election dates
* 3 Frequently asked questions
* 4 Redistricting following the 2020 census
* 5 Footnotes

## Offices on the ballot[edit]

Below is a list of California elections covered by Ballotpedia in 2022. Click the links to learn more about each type:

U.S. Senate| ✓

|

U.S. House| ✓
Congress special election| ✓
Governor| ✓
Other state executive| ✓
State Senate| ✓
State Assembly| ✓
Special state legislative| ✓
State Supreme Court| ✓
Intermediate appellate courts| ✓
Local judges| —
School boards| ✓
Municipal government| ✓
Recalls| ✓
Ballot measures| ✓
Local ballot measures| ✓

Legend: ✓ election(s) / — no elections
Subject to Ballotpedia's scope

## Election dates[edit]

California election dates, 2022

Statewide election dates in California are listed below. For more dates, please see the elections calendar.

### Statewide election dates[edit]

June 7, 2022: Primary
November 8, 2022: General election

Polling hours:

### Local election dates

Ballotpedia provides comprehensive ballot coverage of municipal elections in the nation's 100 largest cities by population, including races for trial court judgeships and county offices that overlap them. Ballotpedia also covers the nation's 200 largest public school districts by student enrollment and all school districts overlapping the top 100 cities by population.

## Frequently asked questions

When are the polls open?

See State Poll Opening and Closing Times (2022) for more information

Where can I find election results?

Election results are posted on Ballotpedia's election overview pages, as well as the relevant candidate pages. You can find links to the current election overview pages in the "Offices on the ballot" section of this page.

How do primaries work in California?

California uses a top-two primary system, in which all candidates appear on the same ballot. The top two vote-getters, regardless of party affiliation, move on to the general election. In states that do not use a top-two system, all parties are usually able to put forward a candidate for the general election if they choose to.[1][2][3][4]

Unlike the top-two format used in some states (Louisiana and Georgia special elections for example), a general election between the top two candidates in California occurs regardless of whether the top candidate received 50 percent of the vote in the first round of elections.

As of 2019, California was one of three states to use a top-two primary system. Washington used the system for congressional and state-level elections, and Nebraska utilized a top-two system for its nonpartisan state legislature.

For information about which offices are nominated via primary election, see this article.

How do I register to vote?

To vote in California, an individual must be a U.S. citizen and California resident. A voter must be at least 18 years of age on Election Day. Conditional voter registration is available beginning 14 days before an election through Election Day.[5]

On October 10, 2015, California Governor Jerry Brown (D) signed into law Assembly Bill No. 1461, also known as the New Motor Voter Act. The legislation, which took effect in 2016, authorized automatic voter registration in California for any individuals who visit the Department of Motor Vehicles to acquire or renew a driver's license.[6][7]

Is there an early voting period?

See also: Early voting

California permits early voting. Learn more by visiting this website.

Who is eligible for absentee voting?

See also: Absentee/mail-in voting

The table below displays absentee voting information specific to California's 2022 primary election.

Absentee voting in California

Are there limits on who can request a ballot? | N/A
Mail request deadline | May 31, 2022
Request postmark or receipt deadline | Received
Mail return deadline | June 7, 2022
Return postmark or receipt deadline | Postmarked
Notary/witness requirements | N/A

California provides for universal, automatic mail-in voting in all elections. Local election officials automatically deliver mail-in ballots to all registered voters . State law does not preclude voters from choosing instead to cast their ballots in person.[8]

What are the voter ID laws in California?

See Voter identification laws by state.

How do I file to run for office?

See Ballot access requirements for political candidates in California for information on how to run for state or federal office.

What does Ballotpedia cover?

Ballotpedia's coverage extends to all elections on the federal level, all gubernatorial, state legislative, statewide ballot measure, and statewide judicial elections, as well as many other types of state executive offices. Local election coverage includes comprehensive ballot coverage for municipal and judicial elections in the top 100 cities by population and races for the large counties that overlap them. In the state capitals outside of the 100 largest cities, it includes coverage of mayoral, city council, and district attorney elections. It also includes school board elections in the top 200 largest school districts by enrollment, all California local ballot measures, and notable local ballot measures from across the nation. Ballotpedia also covers all elections in the U.S. territories but not elections in other countries.

How do I contact Ballotpedia with a question?

Email us at editor@ballotpedia.org.

## Redistricting following the 2020 census

This section lists major events in the post-2020 census redistricting cycle in reverse chronological order. Major events include the release of apportionment data, the release of census population data, the introduction of formal map proposals, the enactment of new maps, and noteworthy court challenges. Click the dates below for additional information.

* Dec. 27, 2021: The commission delivered its final maps to the secretary of state completing the redistricting process.
* Dec. 20, 2021: The commission displayed its final maps for the state's congressional, legislative, and Board of Equalization district lines.
* Nov. 10, 2021: The commission released its first set of draft maps for the state's congressional, legislative, and Board of Equalization district lines.
* Sept. 22, 2021: The California Supreme Court extended the commission's deadline to release its preliminary draft district maps to November 15, 2021, and its deadline to deliver final maps to the secretary of state to December 27, 2021.
* Sept. 20, 2021: The California Citizens Redistricting Commission received official census data signaling the start of its redistricting process.
* Sept. 16, 2021: The U.S. Census Bureau released data from the 2020 census in an easier-to-use format to state redistricting authorities and the public.
* Aug. 12, 2021: The U.S. Census Bureau delivered redistricting data to states in a legacy format.
* April 26, 2021: The U.S. Census Bureau delivered apportionment counts.

## Footnotes[edit]

1. ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "State Primary Election Types," accessed October 25, 2019
2. ↑ FairVote, "Primaries," accessed October 25, 2019
3. ↑ Ballotpedia research conducted December 26, 2013, through January 3, 2014, researching and analyzing various state websites and codes.
4. ↑ Alex Padilla California Secretary of State, "Primary Elections in California," accessed October 25, 2019
5. ↑ California Secretary of State, "Voter Registration," accessed October 6, 2019
6. ↑ The Los Angeles Times, "Gov. Brown approves automatic voter registration for Californians," October 10, 2015
7. ↑ The Sacramento Bee, "California voter law could register millions–for a start," October 20, 2015
8. ↑ California Legislative Information, "AB-37 Elections: vote by mail ballots," accessed October 5, 2021

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Election information

Resources|

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2022 elections|

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