You will receive a nonpartisan ballot with no presidential candidates listed, but you can request a ballot from one of the following political parties:

• American Independent
• Democratic
• Libertarian

Choosing to participate in a party's primary in this election will not change your registration status as a No Party Preference voter.

You may request one of the above ballot choices by:

• using the Crossover Ballot Application button at the top of this webpage
• emailing registrar@smcacre.gov
• calling/texting 650.312.5222
• writing/visiting the Registration & Elections Division at 40 Tower Road, San Mateo, CA 94402

You may also make a request in person at any Vote Center beginning 29 days before Election Day.  To avoid long wait times, we suggest you visit a Vote Center before Election Day.

You can request a ballot from one of the following political parties:

• American Independent
• Democratic
• Libertarian

Choosing to participate in a party's primary in this election will not change your registration status as a No Party Preference voter.

You may request one of the above ballot choices by:

• using the Crossover Ballot Application button at the top of this webpage
• emailing registrar@smcacre.gov
• calling/texting 650.312.5222
• writing/visiting the Registration & Elections Division at 40 Tower Road, San Mateo, CA 94402

You may also make a request in person at any Vote Center up to 29 days before Election Day.  To avoid long wait times, we suggest you visit a Vote Center before Election Day.

You must re-register with that party.

The following political parties require voters to register with their party in order to vote for their presidential candidates.

• Green
• Peace and Freedom
• Republican

You can go to registertovote.ca.gov or pick up a Voter Registration Card at a library, city/town hall or post office.

The deadline to re-register online or by mail is February 20.  You may re-register at any Vote Center through Election Day.

You will receive a ballot for your political party automatically and do not have to do anything.

You must re-register.

You can go to registertovote.ca.gov or pick up a Voter Registration Card at a library, city/town hall or post office.

The deadline to re-register online or by mail is February 20.  You may re-register at any Vote Center through Election Day.

You can only vote for a presidential candidate in your own political party.  You need to re-register with that other political party.  

You can go to registertovote.ca.gov or pick up a Voter Registration Card at a library, city/town hall or post office.

The deadline to re-register online or by mail is February 20.  You may re-register at any Vote Center through Election Day.

The deadline to re-register online or by mail is February 20. You may re-register at any Vote Center through Election Day.

February 20 is the last day you can register to vote for the March 5, 2024 election.  ​If you miss the deadline to register to vote, you can register conditionally​ at any Vote Center through Election Day.

If you missed the deadline of February 20 to register or re-register online or by mail, you may change your political party affiliation, update your registration or register to vote and obtain a new ballot by visiting any Vote Center in San Mateo County.

The qualified parties in California are American Independent, Democratic, Green, Libertarian, Peace and Freedom and Republican.  If you are registered with a party not listed, you will receive a No Party Preference ballot.

If you are a No Party Preference voter and requested a crossover ballot after January 10, you will receive a nonpartisan ballot and a crossover ballot.  You should only vote and return one ballot. Only the first ballot our office receives will be counted, ensuring NO ONE can vote twice. The other ballot should be destroyed.

Voters may also receive additional ballots if they re-register, update their voter registration or request a replacement from our office. Replacement ballots are a normal part of the Vote by Mail process.

No Party Preference or "NPP" voters registered to vote without stating a political party.  They are also known as nonpartisan, independent, and decline to state or "DTS."

A No Party Preference voter is one who did not register with one of the qualified political parties – American Independent, Democratic, Green, Libertarian, Peace and Freedom and Republican.  The Independent Party is not a qualified political party, and voters who registered with this party will be treated in the same manner as a No Party Preference voter.

Crossover voting occurs when voters who are registered to vote with No Party Preference request an American Independent, Democratic or Libertarian party Presidential Primary ballot.  If a No Party Preference voter does not request a crossover ballot, they will receive a Presidential Primary Election ballot without any presidential candidates listed.

Only No Party Preference voters can crossover in this election.

The American Independent, Democratic and Libertarian parties are allowing crossover voting this election.

The decision regarding crossover voting was made by each political party, not the Elections Office.  Contact the political parties for more information.

You can request a Vote by Mail ballot from the American Independent, Democratic or Libertarian party by:

• using the Crossover Ballot Application button at the top of this webpage
• emailing registrar@smcacre.gov
• calling/texting 650.312.5222
• writing/visiting the Registration & Elections Division at 40 Tower Road, San Mateo, CA 94402. 

You may also make a request in person at any Vote Center up to 29 days before Election Day.

You received a nonpartisan ballot with no presidential candidates. 

You may request an American Independent, Democratic or Libertarian ballot by:

• using the Crossover Ballot Application button at the top of this webpage
• emailing registrar@smcacre.gov
• calling/texting 650.312.5222
• writing/visiting the Registration & Elections Division at 40 Tower Road, San Mateo, CA 94402. 

You may also make a request in person at any Vote Center up to 29 days before Election Day.

Yes, you may destroy, surrender or return the un-voted or spoiled ballot before you request a replacement ballot or a ballot of a different party. 

Yes, you will be allowed to vote.  No Party Preference voters not requesting one of those ballots will be given a nonpartisan ballot, containing only the names of the candidates for voter-nominated offices, nonpartisan offices and measures to be voted upon.  There will not be any Presidential candidates on this ballot.

No, you will still be registered as a No Party Preference voter.  You will only be given an American Independent, Democratic or Libertarian party ballot for the 2024 Presidential Primary Election if you request one.

You need to re-register with that party.  Click here to re-register.

You must be registered as Republican to vote for a Republican presidential candidate, or as Green to vote for a Green Party presidential candidate, or as Peace and Freedom to vote for a Peace and Freedom presidential candidate.
 

Only the Democratic, American Independent and Libertarian Parties notified the Secretary of State that they are allowing non-affiliated (No Party Preference) voters to vote for candidates of their parties.