About The Open Primary

Californians will vote June 2 in a “blanket primary”--the state’s first--as a result of Proposition 198, which was approved overwhelmingly in March 1996.

Under the system--the least restrictive form of balloting anywhere in the country--any registered voter can vote for any candidate of any party. The names of all candidates will appear together on a single ballot.

In the governor’s race, voters will choose among 17 candidates from seven parties. The top vote-getters from each party will advance to the general election Nov. 3.

Under California’s old system, a voter could choose only from candidates of the party with which the voter was registered. Those who declined to state a party preference were ineligible to vote in partisan primary races such as those for governor, Congress and the Legislature.