11/05/2024 Presidential General Election

November 5, 2024 Presidential General Election

The Presidential General Election will be held on November 5, 2024. Voters throughout Monterey County will vote on federal, state and local contests including President of the United States, voter nominated offices, and local nonpartisan offices. In the general election, the voter’s party will not impact the ballot they receive. Voters will be mailed ballots and in-person voting opportunities including satellite offices, mobile vote units, and polling places will be available.

Important Dates

About the Presidential General Election

The 2024 Presidential General Election includes the following contests:

• Presidential Contest: U.S. President and Vice President, candidates are nominated by party or the independent nomination process.

• California Top Two Voter Nominated Offices: For each of the offices listed below, the two candidates who received the most votes in the March Primary, will appear on the ballot in the general election. Candidates were nominated directly by voters. For each office, the candidates’ party preference may be the same, different, or reflect no party. These contests will not include a write-in option. The offices listed below fall in this category:

  • U.S. Senator

  • U.S. Representative, District 18 & District 19

  • State Senator, District 17

  • State Assembly, District 29 & District 30

• Local Nonpartisan Offices: these are local offices in which the officeholder is voted directly into office.

  • City Council and Mayor (if applicable)

  • School and Community College District Board Members

  • Special District Governing Board Members

  • Superior Court Judges (if applicable)

In the March 5, 2024, Presidential Primary Election, each contest related to the County Board of Supervisors included a candidate who obtained over 50% of the votes cast for the contest and therefore will not appear in the general election.

• State propositions and local measures: Questions submitted directly to voters to decide on a number of issues included funding, taxes, composition of jurisdictions, etc.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where can I get more information?

See common questions below, or contact us at:

• (831) 796-1499, or

• (866) 887-9274 – Toll Free

• elections@countyofmonterey.gov

How do I check my voter registration status?

You can check your voter registration status, including your name, address, political party, and vote by mail status, by visiting My Voter Status or calling (831) 796-1499.

Who can vote in the General Election?

Any voter, regardless of party preference, can choose to vote for any official candidate on the ballot or official write-in candidate.

What is on the ballot?

In the Presidential General Election you can vote for:

• U.S. President and Vice President,

• U.S. Senator (one full-term and one partial-term),

• Congressperson,

• State Assembly Member,

• State Senator,

• Local officers for your city, schools or special districts,

• State propositions, and

• Local measures.

What county and local offices will be on the ballot?

Depending on where you live, you may also see the following contests on your ballot:

• City Council/Mayor

• Special District Board Members

• School District Trustees and Governing Board Members

In addition, any seat for Superior Court Judge that was open in the primary will appear

on the ballot if an eligible candidate files using the write-in process.

How will I know which party the candidates belong to?

If candidates disclose a party preference, it will be printed by their name on the ballot. If they do not disclose their party, or do not have a political party preference, it will say “Party Preference: None.”

Sometimes party names are abbreviated like this:

• AI = American Independent Party

• DEM = Democratic Party

• GRN = Green Party

• LIB = Libertarian Party

• PF = Peace & Freedom Party

• REP = Republican Party

Candidates for local nonpartisan offices will not have the candidate’s party preference listed.

Why does my ballot list candidates from different parties/the same party?

On June 8, 2010, California voters approved the Top-Two Open Primary Act (Proposition 14). See www.sos.ca.gov/elections/primary-elections-california/ for more information. This Act requires that, for specified state and federal offices, voters have the option of voting for any candidate regardless of political party. The two candidates with the most votes will appear on the ballot in the following general election regardless of their political party preference.

Can I still write in a candidate on my ballot?

It depends. In certain contests you can write in the name of any qualified write-in candidate. You can see a list of qualified write-in candidates on our website and at any in-person voting location. There will be no write-in space for contests under the Top-2 primary rules.

What happens when I “write-in” a name for office?

If you write a qualified write-in candidate (a candidate who filed paperwork with the election official to run as a write-in candidate), your vote will count for that candidate.

If you write the name of someone who has not filed official write-in candidate paperwork, including fictitious characters, no vote will be counted for this contest.

How do I know who the qualified write-in candidates are?

A list of official write-in candidates will be available on the election website, the Elections office and at polling places. The official list will be available no sooner than October 25, 2024.

How do I know if my ballot was counted?

To check the status of your ballot:

• Call the Monterey County Elections office (831) 796-1499;

• Visit My Voter Status; or

• Signup to track your ballot at California (ballottrax.net)

What do I do if I make a mistake on my ballot?

If you make a mistake on your ballot, you can simply make a notation correcting your vote. Line through the complete name of the candidate you do not want and the oval you want removed. Then correctly fill in the oval corresponding with the candidate of your choosing. Do not initial or sign your name after the correction. You can also call and ask for a replacement ballot or visit an in-person voting location for assistance.

I live in Marina/Salinas; why is my ballot missing city contests?

Some areas near cities remain unincorporated even though postal codes use the name of the nearby city. Some examples of unincorporated areas that fall under this category include: CSUMB faculty housing and East Garrison, which fall just outside the City of Marina boundaries. Further, Boronda and parts of Prunedale fall outside the boundaries for the City of Salinas. You can always contact Monterey County Elections to verify your districts.