California sees 13.2 percent increase in registered voters in 2020, an increase of 2.7 million to 20.66 million
As of February 18, 2020, there were 20,660,465 registered voters in California. This represents an increase of 2,745,412 registered voters since the last Report of Registration at a similar point in a presidential election cycle (May 23, 2016). 81.82% of eligible Californians are registered to vote. This is the highest percentage of eligible citizens registered to vote heading into a California Presidential Primary in the past 68 years.
Click here to view the complete statewide Report of Registration.
“California is heading into the Presidential Primary with record voter registration,” Secretary of State Alex Padilla said. “And it’s not too late for Californians who have not yet registered or updated their voter registration. Californians can exercise Same Day Voter Registration at their county elections office, vote center, or polling place. We’re expecting super turnout on Super Tuesday, so I’m also encouraging all Californians to consider voting early — especially if you need to complete Same Day Voter Registration. With record voter registration, we could see longer than normal wait times on Election Day.”
Trends in Statewide Voter Registration 1996 – 2020
(Based on Final Reports of Registration ahead of Presidential Primary Elections)
Same Day Voter Registration
There is a new opportunity for California citizens who missed the traditional voter registration deadline — Same Day Voter Registration will be available at every county elections office, polling place, or vote center. Voters will be asked to fill out a voter registration form and then be provided a ballot. Their ballots will be counted once the county elections office has completed the voter registration verification process.
* With the signing of SB 207 by Governor Newsom on February 13, 2020, voters who wish to simply update their political party preference or their address (if they are moving within the same county) do not have to complete an entire voter registration affidavit during the Same Day Voter Registration process. Voters making these changes will be able to make a written request using a simplified form.
Californians can find early voting locations at CAEarlyVoting.sos.ca.gov.
Californians who are unsure of their voter registration status can quickly check it online at voterstatus.sos.ca.gov.
The Report of Registration includes:
- Voter registration by political party, by county, city, congressional district, state senate district, state assembly district, supervisorial district, and board of equalization.
- Statewide voter registration by age group by county.
- Historical comparisons to previous reports in presidential primary years.
- Reports on political bodies attempting to qualify as political parties (by county).
*This report reflects data as of the close of registration — February 18, 2020 — rather than the 15th day before the March 3, 2020 Presidential Primary. The close of registration fell on a state holiday; therefore, it moved forward to the next business day.
