About The Next Statewide Election

The next statewide election in California will be held on June 5, 2012.  This election is both a statewide primary and a Presidential primary.  Voters may find this election a bit confusing because the passage of Proposition 14 in 2010 changed the rules for statewide primaries (but not for the Presidential primary).

In a Presidential primary election, voters registered with a political party select the candidate who will represent that party on the ballot in the next general election in November.  Each party may decide whether to also allow voters not registered with any party to vote in their party’s primary.  In its statewide primary, however, California now has a Top Two Open Primary system, which means that all candidates running for state constitutional, U.S. Congressional, and state legislative offices will be listed on a single statewide primary election ballot. Voters can vote for the candidate of their choice for these offices, regardless of how they are registered. The top two candidates, as determined by the voters, will advance to the general election in November. Read more about types of elections.

Pros and Cons of the State Propositions

Each election, local leagues of the Leagues of Women Voters do presentations throughout their communities on the Pros and Cons of the propositions on the ballot. We do this public service as part of our mission to help citizens be informed voters. These presentations are objective and nonpartisan, and are not associated with our advocacy mission. Following is a video of the League of Women Voters of Sonoma County presenting the Pros and Cons of the Propositions on the State Ballot.

Why Local Elections Matter

For many voters, the most important election — perhaps the only election in which they vote — is for president.  These races are covered by the media for months, even years prior to election day.  The candidates are likely to be much better known, and the issues are presented as having national, even global, importance.

The case can be made, though, that it is in local government elections that voters can have the most power and the greatest influence.

A member who once served on a school board said to a friend in the next town, “If you see me shopping in your market, it’s because I’m in a hurry.”  She meant, “If I shop in my market, I’ll get stopped by voters who have school district issues to discuss.”

At the local level, voters can attend board, commission, and committee meetings; read and understand minutes and staff reports; serve on citizen advisory committees; call officials at home; even stop them in the aisle of the supermarket.

It is the local government election where the local branches of the League of Women Voters feel the greatest responsibility and make the most effort with candidate debates and voter registration and information activities. If you are looking for information as the June election approaches, please visit our site again. If you are interested in helping others become informed voters, please join us!