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HomeElections CodeDiv. 2Ch. 2Art. 4§ 2152 Voter Party Preference Changes

§ 2152 Voter Party Preference Changes

Elections Code·California
AI Summary·Official Text·Key Terms·Related Statutes·References
AI SummaryVerified

§ 2152 Voter Party Preference Changes

Key Takeaways

  • •You can change your political party anytime before an election by filling out a new form.
  • •If it's too close to the election (within 14 days), you can write a simple note instead of filling out a full form to change your party.
  • •Your note must include your name, address, new party, a promise that it's true, and your signature.
  • •If you change your party close to the election, you might get a regular ballot or a special one, depending on where you vote.

Example

You want to vote in the Democratic primary, but you're registered as Independent. The election is in 10 days.

You can write a note with your name, address, and say you want to change to Democratic. Sign it and give it to the elections office. They'll update your registration right away and give you the right ballot.

AI-generated — May contain errors. Not legal advice. Always verify source.

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 2152 Voter Party Preference Changes

(a) Whenever any voter has declined to disclose or has changed the voter’s party preference prior to the close of registration for an election, the voter may either so disclose or have a change recorded by executing a new affidavit of registration and completing the prior registration portion of the affidavit. (b) From the 14th day immediately preceding an election until the close of polls on election day, in lieu of executing a new affidavit of registration to disclose or have a change recorded for a voter’s political party preference, the county elections official shall accept a written request by a voter that discloses or changes the voter’s political party preference and that contains all of the following: (1) The voter’s printed name. (2) The voter’s current residence address. (3) The voter’s new political party preference. (4) A certification by the voter of the content of the written request as to its truthfulness and correctness, under penalty of perjury. (5) The voter’s signature and date of execution. (c) The written request shall be delivered to the county elections official’s office or to any location that offers conditional voter registration and at which a ballot for the political party for which the voter disclosed a preference can be issued. Following delivery to such a location, the county elections official shall issue a ballot in accordance with the following: (1) A nonprovisional ballot shall be issued to the voter if either of the following applies: (A) The voter appears at the voter’s precinct, the voter’s name is found on the roster, and the voter either has not been issued a vote by mail ballot or the conditions set forth in subdivision (a) of Section 3015 are satisfied. (B) The voter appears at a location that is equipped with an electronic poll book or other means to determine the voter’s precinct, the location can provide the voter with a ballot for the voter’s precinct, the entire county has established connectivity between locations, and the location at which the voter appears verifies that the voter has not cast a ballot at another location for the election and notes in the voter’s record that the voter cast a ballot. (2) A provisional ballot shall be issued to the voter if either of the following applies: (A) The voter appears at the voter’s precinct, the voter’s name is found on the roster, the voter has been issued a vote by mail ballot, and the conditions set forth in subdivision (a) of Section 3015 are not satisfied. (B) The voter appears at a location, other than the voter’s precinct, that is equipped with an electronic poll book or other means to determine the voter’s precinct, but the entire county has not established connectivity between locations such that the location is unable to verify that the voter has not cast a ballot at another location for the election. (d) Upon receipt of a properly executed written request described in subdivision (b), the registration of the voter shall be immediately updated and the written request shall be maintained with the voter’s record. (Amended by Stats. 2020, Ch. 1, Sec. 2. (SB 207) Effective February 13, 2020.)

Last verified: January 23, 2026

Key Terms

registrationpreferenceelectionlocationportpenaltyoffervoter

Related Statutes

  • § 104 Petition Circulator Declaration Requirements
  • § 2103 Voter Registration Outreach Requirements
  • § 6767 Peace And Freedom Delegate Requirements
  • § 10204.9 Candidate Term Limits Pledge
  • § 15104 Vote By Mail Observation

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Elections Code. Section 2152.
View Official Source