Days Before Primary Election, CA Registered Voters Break Record

SACRAMENTO, CA — Just days before voters will cast their ballots in California's contentious primary election, a record 23.1 million Californians have already registered to vote, according to figures released on Friday by the Secretary of State's Office.

The latest Report of Registration, released by Secretary of State Shirley N. Weber, found that 23,155,447 eligible Californians were registered to vote as of May 18, the highest total in state history.

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"California's record voter registration numbers show that our
democracy is alive and well, powered by millions of Californians who are excited to take part in shaping both the future and values that strengthen our state," Weber said in a statement.

"Our voters are not only staying engaged, they are stepping forward with purpose."

Democrats continue to make up the largest share of the state's
electorate, with nearly 10.4 million registered voters, or 44.9 percent of the total. Republicans account for about 5.8 million voters, or 24.96 percent, while 5.28 million voters, or 22.82 percent, are registered with no party preference.

The report also found 965,068 voters registered with the American Independent Party, 231,107 registered Libertarians, 154,305 Peace and Freedom Party members and 113,790 Green Party voters.

Eligible Californians who have not yet registered to vote may still participate in Tuesday's election through same-day, or conditional, voter registration, which is available at vote centers throughout the state, officials said.

Last month, election officials said they were preparing for a possible influx of vote-by-mail (VBM) ballots after announcing a record number of eligible registered California voters ahead of one of the most contentious primary elections in history.

On April 24, Weber released California's most recent 60-day report of registration which includes data as recently as April 3, which showed a total of 23,112,854 eligible Californians are registered to vote. The total registered voters is a record for the state which has 27,244,706 eligible voters.

The announcements come amid a proposal that would require California to verify proof of citizenship when a person registers to vote — and require voters to provide identification at polling places — will appear on the November ballot, state officials announced Friday.

The announcement comes amid a national debate over election security and what type of requirements voters should face to show they are qualified to cast a ballot. In Congress, Republicans are pushing a strict proof-of-citizenship proposal for residents to vote, encouraged by President Donald Trump.

The California plan — also backed by Republicans — is being pitched as a common sense idea to strengthen confidence in voting in a vast state with more than 23 million people registered to cast a ballot. State officials said its backers submitted sufficient petition signatures to qualify for the November ballot.

Election integrity has come into question in California after a group discovered what it deemed irregularities from November's Proposition 50 special election, which would redraw congressional maps. The proposition passed with more than 66 percent of support from California voters, but many in the GOP have blasted the measure as unfair and heavily-favoring Democrats.

Riverside County Sheriff's Department stepped into the fray when it seized more than 650,000 ballots this year after it was made aware of the alleged irregularities, which election officials have disputed.

California Gubernatorial candidate and Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco is facing multiple lawsuits over the seizures, including a complaint filed by state Attorney General Rob Bonta. In the meantime, last month the state Supreme Court ordered the Riverside County Sheriff's Department to cease its election probe as the cases are pending.

Some voters have expressed their own concerns about casting their ballot in the upcoming election — including federal authorities might deploy officers or troops near polls following President Donald Trump telling his followers on social media Republicans will send an "Election Integrity Army" to every state for this year's midterm elections.

Trump has criticized U.S. election integrity for more than a decade, and his announcement on Sunday included accusations of "suppressing Republican voters," blaming Democrats for allegedly threatening "the integrity" of upcoming midterm elections.

In an email to Patch, the California Secretary of State's office countered claims of election fraud and reassured voters it is illegal for federal authorities cannot be near election polls.

"The Office of the California Secretary of State is committed to ensuring that elections are fair, safe and accessible for all eligible voters. Under California law, strict prohibitions limit law enforcement activity near or at voting locations. Federal law prohibits the deployment of troops or armed persons to a polling place. Additionally, Federal law prohibits the use of armed forces from interfering with an election through intimidation, threats, or by force.

While the Department of Homeland Security has let State Secretaries know that ICE agents will not be present at polling places in the upcoming election, our office will continue to work with the California Attorney General’s Office and local law enforcement to protect voter rights and hold those responsible who seek to intimidate or restrict eligible voters from casting their ballots."

Election officials have been preparing for months to handle the capacity of vote-by-mail ballots it may receive this year if voters don't go to the polls.

SOS officials said there are a record number of registered eligible voters this year, and it cannot predict how many voters will opt to vote by mail, but every county is prepared to process each vote-by-mail ballot they receive.

In addition, vote-by-mail ballots received by county election officials before election day are usually counted that day. More vot-by-mail ballots are dropped off at polling locations, drop-box locations, and arrive at county elections offices on election day. VBM ballots postmarked on or before election day and received by county elections officials no later than 7 days after election day must be processed, officials said.

It can take up to 30 days for county election officials to verify voter records and determine if ballots have been cast by eligible voters.

Voters who are unsure of their registration status can check online through the Secretary of State's Office at https://voterstatus.sos.ca.gov.

City News Service and The Associated Press contributed to this report.