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AP20:044
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 1, 2020
CONTACT:
SOS Press Office
(916) 653-6575
California Election Results Certified; Record Number of Ballots Cast in a Primary
SACRAMENTO, CA – Secretary of State Alex Padilla has certified the results of the California March 3, 2020 Presidential Primary Election. Among the results:
- 9,687,076 Californians voted, the most ever in a primary election.
- 38.4% of the eligible voting age population cast ballots, the second highest primary turnout in the past 38 years.
- Voter turnout in 13 of the 15 Voters Choice Act counties exceeded the statewide turnout.
Click here to view the complete Statement of the Vote.
“California’s presidential primary moved to primetime in 2020 and voters responded in record numbers,” Secretary of State Alex Padilla said. “There was more meaningful campaigning in California by presidential candidates than we have seen in many years. Voting earlier in the presidential nominating process for all parties will continue to be a win for California in the years and election cycles ahead.”
“And now that the primary election results are certified, we continue with preparations for the November General Election while confronting the COVID-19 pandemic. I’m asking all California voters to do their part to help protect our democracy and safeguard their health by verifying their voter registration at voterstatus.sos.ca.gov, making any updates to their voter registration at registertovote.ca.gov, and encouraging friends and family to do the same. A few minutes online will help voters and elections officials be ready for the General Election,” Padilla added.
For footage of the Secretary’s remarks in English, click here.
Para ver el video de los comentarios del Secretario en español, haga clic aquí.
For B-roll footage of the Secretary signing the Certification, click here.
Historical Comparison of California Presidential Primary Elections
|
|
2020 |
2016 |
2012 |
2008 |
2004 |
2000 |
|
Total Votes Cast |
9,687,076 |
8,548,301 |
5,328,296 |
9,068,415 |
6,684,421 |
7,883,385 |
|
Turnout % of Eligible Voting Age Population |
38.36% |
34.49% |
22.47% |
39.52% |
30.54% |
37.15% |
|
Turnout % of Registered Voters |
46.89% |
47.72% |
31.06% |
57.71% |
44.29% |
53.88% |
Voter’s Choice Act
15 counties implemented the Voter’s Choice Act for this election, up from 5 in 2018 and encompassing more than half the state’s voters. The 15 counties implementing the Voter’s Choice Act for 2020 are: Amador, Butte, Calaveras, El Dorado, Fresno, Los Angeles, Madera, Mariposa, Napa, Nevada, Orange, Sacramento, San Mateo, Santa Clara, and Tuolumne.
Voter turnout in 13 of the 15 VCA counties exceeded the statewide turnout. In the two others, Fresno and Los Angeles, turnout of the eligible voting age population was greater than the turnout of the eligible voting age population in the 2016 Presidential Primary Election.
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