This is a big year. In 2024, we will decide on the next president of the United States and pick a new U.S. Senator from California.
But in Sacramento County, there are a number of local races that will have a big impact on your day-to-day life. Residents will vote for Sacramento mayor and City Council, state Legislative seats, and more. In many cases, the top two finishers will move on to the November general election, though some will name a winner if the top vote-getter receives more than 50%.
We wanted to take a closer look at those races, and also make sure you’re registered and ready for California’s primary election.
Election day is March 5. Once again, every registered voter in the state will receive a mail-in ballot, though there will be options to vote in-person and ways to register up through election day.
Here's what you need to know to register, learn about the candidates and cast your ballot in Sacramento County through March 5.
📅 Key dates
- Feb. 5: Deadline for counties to send mail-in ballots to all registered voters. Some ballot drop boxes open on this date.
- Feb. 20: The last day to register to vote online and get a ballot in the mail. After this day, you will have to register to vote at a polling place, vote center or your county elections office.
- Feb. 24: Some vote centers open in all Voter’s Choice Act counties (this includes Sacramento).
- March 2: All vote centers open through election day.
- March 5: Election Day. You can register and cast a ballot through this day. Mail-in ballots must be postmarked by this day and arrive no later than March 12.
- April 4: Counties must finish counting ballots and certify their results.
- April 12: Deadline for the Secretary of State to certify the results. If the governor is recalled, he will need to vacate the office by this date and the winning replacement candidate will be sworn in.
Learn about local races
Other races in the region
Learn about the statewide proposition
California has one proposition on the ballot this March. That’s right, just one, helpfully called Proposition 1.
The proposition would do two things, if approved:
- Approve a $6.38 billion bond to build thousands more units of permanent supportive housing and treatment beds for people with mental illness and/or substance use disorder across the state.
- Change the terms of the Mental Health Services Act, a law passed by voters in 2004 that uses a 1% tax on high earners (those with incomes over $1 million per year) to help pay for mental health services. More money would be spent on housing and support services for people with mental illness and substance use disorder, and less would be spent on existing county services like outpatient treatment and crisis response.
You can read more about it in this CapRadio guide.
How to vote
Here are the basics on making sure you're registered to vote and your ballot is counted.
How to register
You can sign up or check your voter registration status on the Secretary of State’s website.
You can register to vote as long as you are over 18 and a United States citizen. Parolees are now able to vote in elections, after voters approved Proposition 17 in November 2020.
The last day to register to vote online and get a ballot in the mail is Feb. 19. After that, you will have to register to vote at a polling place, vote center or your county elections office. You can register and cast a provisional ballot through election day, March 5.
If you haven’t voted in recent years or you have recently moved counties, you may be an inactive voter. Check your status on the Secretary of State’s website to make sure you receive a ballot in the mail.
How to vote for California’s presidential primary
While this March will be California’s presidential primary, you may not automatically get a ballot with a party’s presidential candidates on it. Here’s how that works and how to make sure you can vote for the primary for the party you are interested in.
Are you registered under the party whose primary you’d like to vote in?
If you answered yes, then you’re all set. You’ll receive a ballot with your party’s presidential primary.
Are you registered as No Party Preference?
If you answered yes, you will not receive a ballot with a party’s presidential primary. Some parties allow No Party preference voters to vote in their primaries, but you must contact your county’s election office and request what’s known as a crossover ballot. In this election, the American Independent Party, Democratic Party, and Libertarian Party are allowing crossover voting.
To request a crossover ballot in Sacramento County, return a crossover application (available in ​English, Spanish, Chinese, and Vietnamese​​) by mail, email [email protected] or call (916) 875-6155. The last day to request a crossover ballot to be mailed is Feb. 27. You can also go to any Vote Center to request a crossover ballot up until Election Day.
If you’d like to vote in the Green Party, Peace and Freedom Party, or Republican Party primaries, then you need to re-register with that party. You can do that on the Secretary of State’s website, a vote center or your county election office through Feb. 20, which is the voter registration deadline for the March 5 election.
Are you registered as a different party than the one you want to vote for?
If you answered yes, you’ll need to register with that party, or as No Party Preference if that party allows crossover voters. You can do that on the Secretary of State’s website, a vote center, or your county election office. If you re-register by the Feb. 20 voter registration deadline, you will be sent a new ballot in the mail.
If you are issued a new ballot, election officials say you should destroy your old one. If you turn in two ballots, only the first one will be counted.
You can find more information about how to request a crossover ballot on the Sacramento County election website or on the Secretary of State’s website.
Nick Warino drops off his ballot at the South Natomas Community Library in Sacramento, Calif., with election workers Claudia Bonsignore and Dede Macias on Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2022.Andrew Nixon / CapRadioHow to vote by mail
All active, registered voters will receive a mail-in ballot in early February (active means you’ve participated in recent elections). Counties must send those out by Feb. 5 and they are expected to arrive a few days later (though some may send them out sooner).
To vote, fill out your mail-in ballot and place it in the secure envelope. Make sure you sign the outside of your ballot envelope. No stamp is required. Election officials match your signature with the one on file to verify your identity.
Here's how to return your ballot:
- Drop it in any U.S. Postal Service mailbox.
- Use any designated ballot drop box. Those are typically located at libraries and community centers. You can find a list of Sacramento County dropboxes on the county’s website.
- You can also return your mail-in ballot in-person at your county elections office or any vote center or polling place. More information about specific locations is available on the Sacramento County Registrar's website and the California Secretary of State’s website or by contacting your county elections office.
Mail-in ballots must be postmarked by election day, March 5 and arrive no later than March 12.
How to vote in person
Your polling location will be listed on the sample ballot mailed by your county elections office. You can also contact your county elections office to ask for the location.
You can find an early voting location by visiting the Secretary of State office’s website. Voting locations will have separate lines for voters dropping off completed ballots.
On election day, you must be in line at the polling place or voting center by 8 p.m. in order to register and cast your ballot. As long as you are in line by 8 p.m., you will be allowed to vote.
How to track your ballot
The state of California has a website to track your ballot after you mail or submit your vote in person.
What to expect after election day
Counties can begin releasing results on election night at 8 p.m.
Many races may not be decided on election night if there are still a large number of outstanding mail-in ballots.
Counties must finish counting ballots and certify their results by April 4. The Secretary of State will certify the results on April 12.
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