How to Vote "Uncommitted" In California on Stupor Tuesday (March 5)

Just got this in my email after my previous post.

PREVIOUS POST (2/29)

"Uncommitted" Comes in 2nd in Michigan Dem Primary (Includes Reader Poll)

This is a great strategy

JUST RECEIVED FROM CALMATTERS:

Good morning, California.

How do CA Democrats vote for Gaza ceasefire in primary?

Protesters calling for a ceasefire in Gaza interrupted the general session at the California Democratic Party convention in Sacramento on Nov. 18, 2023. Photo by Miguel Gutierrez Jr., CalMatters

Democrats unhappy with President Biden’s steadfast support of Israel in the Gaza war mounted a concerted effort in Michigan to protest, urging voters to mark “uncommitted” on their ballots to call for a ceasefire.

More than 100,000 voted that way on Tuesday, compared to more than 800,000 for Biden — though the “uncommitted” percentage is not wildly out of line from recent presidential primaries in Michigan.   

But can Democratic voters do the same in California? 

Some readers want to know, wondering if they could send a message by writing in “uncommitted” or “ceasefire” instead of a candidate’s name on the March 5 primary presidential ballot.

The Secretary of State’s office says that only votes for Biden, the seven other official candidates on the Democratic ballot or the six certified write-in candidates will be counted for the presidential race. 

But leaving the presidential race blank or “editorializing” by writing in another name or phrase won’t invalidate the rest of your ballot, unless it “impedes tabulation,” in which case it will be set aside and reviewed by election officials.

Besides registered Democrats, no party preference voters can also cast ballots in the primary if you request a Democratic presidential ballot.

To minimize the risk of invalidating one’s vote, California leaders with the Council on American-Islamic Relations told CalMatters they are calling for Democratic voters to leave the presidential race blank and make sure to vote in other contests.

• Al Jabbar, secretary of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, California PAC: “We are asking all of our voters to vote down-ballot, and many of them are looking for candidates who are asking or calling for a ceasefire…. We don’t want to take the risk of affecting other down-ballots, especially with tight Senate and congressional races.”

Rallies calling for a ceasefire are planned for Saturday in cities across California and the nation. The Gaza war has been a contentious issue in California politics ever since Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7. 

Debate over U.S. policy led to disruptions at the state Democratic Party convention in November, protests during the first day of the state Legislature and divisions on college campuses. In the primary campaign, the issue is helping distinguish the three leading Democratic candidates for U.S. Senate.

Decision time: We’re also answering other common voting questions: How can you get your vote counted faster? How are the presidential primary rules different? How can you find information on local judicial candidates? 

Our comprehensive Voter Guide has what you need to know on the big races on the March 5 ballot. And as the campaign heats up, keep up with what you need to know from CalMatters’ coverage.

---

---

---

It’s never too late to become a paid subscriber to support our work, or for a one time donation:

We have different tiers of support: $5/month; $50/year, or $100 as a founding member.

Checks/money/orders/cash/etc can be SNAIL-mailed to:

Cindy Sheehan’s Soapbox, LLC
PO BOX 6264, VACAVILLE, CA 95696

PayPal: cindysheehanssoapbox@gmail.com