March 5 primary election: Here’s what you need to know

Vote centers open for early in-person voting in all Voter’s Choice Act counties beginning on Feb. 24, 2024. Image: lwv_cc/IG

LOS ANGELES – The March 5 primary election is coming up soon. Here’s important information you need to know, according to California Secretary of State Shirley N. Weber.

• The last day to register to vote for the March 5, 2024, Presidential Primary Election is Feb. 20, 2024.
• All California active registered voters will receive a vote-by-mail ballot for the March 5, 2024, Presidential Primary Election.
• Your county elections office began mailing ballots Feb. 5, 2024.
• Ballot drop-off locations opened on Feb. 6, 2024.
• Vote-by-mail ballots can be returned by mail, at a drop-off location, or your county elections office.
• Vote centers will open for early in-person voting in all Voter’s Choice Act counties beginning on Feb. 24, 2024.
• Vote-by-mail ballots must be postmarked on or before Election Day and received by March 12, 2024.

You can register to vote online at registertovote.ca.gov until Tuesday, Feb. 20.

If you are registering or re-registering less than 15 days before Election Day, you will need to complete the Same-Day Voter Registration and request your ballot in person at your county elections office or polling location.

To register online or in person, you will need to provide your California driver’s license or California identification card number, the last four digits of your social security and your date of birth.

If you’re not sure if you are registered in California, you can double-check if you are registered, where you are registered and your party preference online at voterstatus.sos.ca.gov.

You can track and receive notifications on the status of your vote-by–mail ballot through the California Secretary of State’s Where’s My Ballot? program.

Vote Centers

Vote centers are open daily from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Feb. 24 to March 4. On Election Day, March 5, voting centers have extended hours and are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

After receiving your ‘Official Sample Ballot’ you can scan the QR code inside to find your local voter center or a ballot drop box. You can also find your local vote center by entering your zip code on the state website at sos.ca.gov/elections/polling-place.

Designated Ballot Drop Box locations can be found on the California Secretary of State’s website at caearlyvoting.sos.ca.gov. 

What’s on the ballot?

While the presidential election may get the most attention, many important state and local races are also on the ballot.

Voters participating in the California primary election this coming March 5, will choose the candidates who will compete in the general election on Tuesday, Nov. 5.

Under the state’s “top two” primary system, the top two vote-getters in the primary will advance to the general election even if they are both from the same party.

In the general election, candidates for US President, Senate and House of Representatives and California Senate and Assembly will be at the top of the ballot.

You can find the certified list of candidates here and more election-related information at https://www.vote411.org/.