Elections in California
Encyclopedia
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 initiative
s and legislative referral
s) and recall election
can also be held.
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
).
has a gubernatorial election every four years and, in 2003, it had a recall election
. Primary election
s were held in March or June until 2008, when they were held in February. General election
s, 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.
:
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.
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, 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
By-election
A by-election is an election held to fill a political office that has become vacant between regularly scheduled elections....
are also held to fill certain seats at other points in time. Additionally, statewide referenda
Referendum
A referendum is a direct vote in which an entire electorate is asked to either accept or reject a particular proposal. This may result in the adoption of a new constitution, a constitutional amendment, a law, the recall of an elected official or simply a specific government policy. It is a form of...
both initiative
Initiative
In political science, an initiative is a means by which a petition signed by a certain minimum number of registered voters can force a public vote...
s and legislative referral
Legislative referral
A Legislative referral is a form of referendum in which a legislature puts proposed legislation up for popular vote , rather than through the initiative or referendum process...
s) and recall election
Recall election
A recall election is a procedure by which voters can remove an elected official from office through a direct vote before his or her term has ended...
can also be held.
President
Every four years (since 1792), the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
holds an indirect election
Indirect election
Indirect election is a process in which voters in an election don't actually choose between candidates for an office but rather elect persons who will then make the choice. It is one of the oldest form of elections and is still used today for many upper houses and presidents...
for President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
and Vice President
Vice President of the United States
The Vice President of the United States is the holder of a public office created by the United States Constitution. The Vice President, together with the President of the United States, is indirectly elected by the people, through the Electoral College, to a four-year term...
. 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
Ticket (election)
A ticket refers to a single election choice which fills more than one political office or seat. For example, in the U.S., the candidates for President and Vice President run on the same "ticket", because they are elected together on a single ballot question rather than separately.A ticket can also...
) 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
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
that the state has (the members in the House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
, plus the two senators
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
).
State
CaliforniaCalifornia
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
has a gubernatorial election every four years and, in 2003, it had a recall election
California recall election, 2003
The 2003 California gubernatorial recall election was a special election permitted under California state law. It resulted in voters replacing incumbent Democratic Governor Gray Davis with Republican Arnold Schwarzenegger. The recall effort spanned the latter half of 2003...
. Primary election
Primary election
A primary election is an election in which party members or voters select candidates for a subsequent election. Primary elections are one means by which a political party nominates candidates for the next general election....
s were held in March or June until 2008, when they were held in February. General election
General election
In a parliamentary political system, a general election is an election in which all or most members of a given political body are chosen. The term is usually used to refer to elections held for a nation's primary legislative body, as distinguished from by-elections and local elections.The term...
s, 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 partiesPolitical party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
:
- American Independent PartyAmerican Independent PartyThe American Independent Party is a right-wing political party of the United States that was established in 1967 by Bill and Eileen Shearer. In 1968, the American Independent Party nominated George C. Wallace as its presidential candidate and retired Air Force General Curtis E. LeMay as the vice...
- Democratic PartyDemocratic Party (United States)The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
(see also California Democratic PartyCalifornia Democratic PartyThe California Democratic Party is the state branch of the Democratic Party in the state of California, headquartered in Sacramento. It is chaired by veteran Democratic politician and former United States Representative John L. Burton, who succeeded Art Torres in April 2009. It is the majority...
) - Green PartyGreen Party (United States)The Green Party of the United States is a nationally recognized political party which officially formed in 1991. It is a voluntary association of state green parties. Prior to national formation, many state affiliates had already formed and were recognized by other state parties...
(see also Green Party of CaliforniaGreen Party of CaliforniaThe Green Party of California is the California affiliate of the Green Party. The party is a ballot-qualified in California, first established as such in 1991, using the petition method of gaining state recognition....
) - Libertarian PartyLibertarian Party (United States)The Libertarian Party is the third largest and fastest growing political party in the United States. The political platform of the Libertarian Party reflects its brand of libertarianism, favoring minimally regulated, laissez-faire markets, strong civil liberties, minimally regulated migration...
(see also Libertarian Party of CaliforniaLibertarian Party of CaliforniaThe Libertarian Party of California is the California affiliate of the Libertarian Party. The state chair is Kevin Takenaga.- Libertarians in office in California :-See also:*David Bergland*Steve Kubby*James P. Gray*Gail Lightfoot*George Monty Davis...
) - Peace and Freedom PartyPeace and Freedom Party (United States)The Peace and Freedom Party is a minor political party in California. Its first candidates appeared on the ballot in 1966, but the national party was officially founded in 1967 as a left-wing organization opposed to the Vietnam War. The party nominated Ralph Nader for President in the 2008 U.S...
- Republican PartyRepublican Party (United States)The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
(see also California Republican PartyCalifornia Republican PartyThe California Republican Party is the California affiliate of the United States Republican Party. The party chairman is Tom Del Beccaro and is based in Burbank, California, a suburb of Los Angeles. The RPC also has a headquarters in Sacramento....
)
Due to the first-past-the-post
First-past-the-post
First-past-the-post voting refers to an election won by the candidate with the most votes. The winning potato candidate does not necessarily receive an absolute majority of all votes cast.-Overview:...
electoral system used in California, only the Democratic Party and Republican Party currently have representation in the State Legislature. However, Audie Bock
Audie Bock
Audie Elizabeth Bock is an American film scholar and politician who served in the California State Assembly from 1999 to 2000....
, a member of the Green Party, was elected in 1999 during what is known as special election musical chairs
Special election musical chairs
"Special election musical chairs" is a term used by editorialists to describe a series of special elections triggered by the mid-term resignation or death of an officeholder, with elections being won by other officeholders, triggering further special elections until either the next election...
.
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.
See also
- Elections in the United StatesElections in the United StatesThe United States has a federal government, with elected officials at the federal , state and local levels. On a national level, the head of state, the President, is elected indirectly by the people, through an Electoral College. In modern times, the electors virtually always vote with the popular...
- Electoral reform in CaliforniaElectoral reform in CaliforniaElectoral reform in California refers to efforts to change election and voting laws in the West Coast state of California.-Alternate voting systems:...
- Government of CaliforniaGovernment of CaliforniaThe government of California operates in the context of a democratic republic with three branches of government: the executive branch consisting of the Governor of California and the other elected constitutional officers; the legislative branch consisting of the California State Legislature which...
- List of California ballot propositions
- List of California Governors
- Political party strength in CaliforniaPolitical party strength in CaliforniaThe following table indicates the party of elected officials in the U.S. state of California:*Governor*Lieutenant Governor*Attorney General*Secretary of State*Treasurer*Controller*Insurance Commissioner*Superintendent of Public Instruction...
- Politics of CaliforniaPolitics of CaliforniaThe recent and current politics of the U.S. state of California are complex and involve a number of entrenched interests. .-Political issues:...
- U.S. Congressional Delegations from California
External links
- California Elections and Voter Information from the California Secretary of State official website
- California Election Statistics One Voter Project
- Elections Information California Voter Foundation