Photo by Noe Magaña.

This article was written by BenitoLink intern Camille Mattish. Lea este articulo en español aquí.

California’s primary election is March 5, and candidates running for county seats can win their race if they get more than 50% of the votes. If no candidate in a race gets more than 50%, the top two candidates move on to the Nov. 5 general election ballot. 

In statewide races, the top two candidates will face off in the general election. If there are only two candidates running, both will automatically move to the general election.    

BenitoLink has gathered frequently asked election and voting questions and provided information and resources voters can use in the weeks and months ahead.

Frequently asked questions:

Which races and candidates will appear on San Benito County ballots?

U.S. Representative, 18th District

  • Zoe Lofgren (incumbent)
  • Peter Hernandez, small business owner
  • Luele Kifle, disaster housing inspector
  • Lawrence Milan, bartender
  • Charlene Concepción Nijmeh, tribal chairwoman
2024 Primary Election: 18th Congressional District 

State Senate, 17th District

  • John Laird (incumbent)
  • Eric Tao, computer science professor
  • Tony Virrueta, veterans advocate/father
  • Michael Oxford, AV technician
2024 Primary Election: 17th Senate District

State Assembly, 29th District

  • Robert Rivas (incumbent)
  • J.W. Paine, teamster truck driver

(* Candidates did not respond to questions submitted by BenitoLink for election article)

San Benito County Supervisor, District 1

  • Dom Zanger (incumbent)
  • Stacie A. McGrady, retired law enforcement 
  • Dustin Weber, attorney/quality assurance director
2024 Primary Elections: San Benito County Board of Supervisors District 1 

San Benito County Supervisor, District 2

  • Kollin Kosmicki (incumbent)
  • John Freeman, city council member, San Juan Bautista
2024 Primary Election: San Benito County Board of Supervisors District 2

San Benito County Supervisor, District 5

  • Bea Gonzales, (incumbent)
  • Ignacio Velazquez (business owner)
2024 Primary Election: San Benito County Board of Supervisors District 5

Registering to vote

Check your registration status here.

How do I register to vote?

If I didn’t vote in the primary, can I vote in the general election?

  • Yes.

What happens if I miss the voter registration deadline?

  • The last day to register is Feb. 20. Complete the same-day voter registration and request your ballot in person at the County Elections Office or any vote center location if you’re re-registering less than 15 days before Election Day.

How do I change my political party if I’m already registered?

What if I need the voter instructions in a different language?

What if I have a disability?

Who gets a ballot in the mail?

  • Everyone who is an active registered voter in California receives a ballot.

When does the county begin mailing the mail-in ballot?

  • Election offices are required to mail ballots by Feb. 5, which comes with a general information guide.

How do I return my mail-in ballot?

  • You can mail the ballot to the County Elections Office, drop it off at a ballot drop box or any vote center location.

Where are the vote centers and drop box locations?

Can I vote in person? 

  • Yes.

How do I find my polling place or vote center?

  • Here are ways to find your polling place or vote center:
    • Go to voterstatus.sos.ca.gov
    • Text “VOTE” to GOVOTE (468-8683)
    • Call (800) 345-VOTE, which is the Secretary of State’s voter hotline
    • Contact the County Elections Office, or view the back of county’s Voter Information Guide
    • Search for mail ballot drop-off locations as well as early in-person voting sites

Am I allowed to leave work to vote?

  • Yes. According to state law, employers are required to pay up to two hours of time off for voting, though you can take more (unpaid) time off if needed. You might need to give your employer advance notice; they are required to post “Time Off to Vote” notices 10 days before the election. 

What parties can I expect to be in the primary election?

  • Democratic, Republican, Libertarian, Green, Nonpartisan and others, including no party preference.

Will my ballot have all 6 political parties for the primary election?

  • No. Your ballot will only contain the candidates of the party you are registered to.
  • If you would like to vote for a candidate in a different party, then you must either:
    • Crossover – applies only to “No Party Preference” (NPP) voters. American Independent, Democratic, and Libertarian are the only parties that allow you to crossover.
    • Re-register – in order to receive candidates for Green Party, Peace and Freedom, or Republican, you must re-register to your desired party.

Can I write in a candidate for state offices?

  • No, unless you become a certified write-in candidate. The filing period is Jan. 8 to Feb. 20 to become certified.

How can I track my ballot?

  • Go here to track your ballot and receive notification when your vote is counted.

What if I made a mistake on my ballot?

  • Contact the County Elections Office to request a new ballot, or go to the local polling place or vote center and request a replacement there. 

Does the signature on my ballot need to match the one on file?

  • Yes. If your signature does not match the one on file, or the ballot is missing your signature, you will be notified to amend the error before the election is certified.

What should I do if I don’t receive my ballot?

Does it matter if I put my ballot in a drop box in the wrong county?

  • No, the county will send it to the correct elections office within 7 days of receiving the ballot.

If I didn’t detach the stub from my ballot, what should I do?

What should I do if I receive another person’s ballot?

  • Do not open the ballot. Simply write “Return to Sender” or “Not at this Address” and return it to the County Registrar of Voters by mail.

What is the difference between the State Voter Information Guide and the County Voter Information Guide?

  • The California Secretary of State says, “Your State Voter Information Guide contains information about federal and statewide candidates and statewide ballot measures. The State Voter Information Guide is only mailed prior to a statewide election.”
  • The County Voter Information Guide contains information about local candidates, party endorsements, and vote center locations.

How do I vote if I’m in the military temporarily living out of state or abroad?

  • Request a special absentee ballot and re-register if you know the location you will be based. You can also ask to have your ballot mailed, emailed or faxed to you. Contact the County Elections Office for further guidance.

If my mail is being forwarded to me, will I still get my ballot?

  • No. Make certain that the county has your new address. Contact the County Elections Office immediately if you believe the ballot went to your previous address or check your voter status here.

What if I don’t have a permanent address?

  • You can still vote if you don’t have a permanent address. Use your last residence address, or your business address, if that’s where you live. If you do not have a street name to put on the voter registration card, just give the city, zip code and closest cross streets. Another option is to give a mailing address where you could receive the needed materials for voting, such as a post office box. You can also contact the County Elections Office for assistance.

See also:

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