11/08/2022 General Election

November 8, 2022 Statewide General Election

In the November Statewide General Election, all voters, regardless of political party preference, will see the same top two candidates for state and federal offices. Voters will be able to vote on local contests and on Congressional and Assembly districts as determined by their residential address. As a result of Assembly Bill 37, all active voters will receive a ballot in the mail and in-person voting opportunities will be available.

California Top-Two Contests

The offices listed below fall under the California’s top-two primary rules. Candidates are nominated during the primary election directly by voters to run in the general election. The party preference (or “None” if applicable) for each candidate will be included on the ballot.

Federal/State Offices

In the November General Election, each contest below will include the two candidates who received the most votes from the June Primary Election.

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

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

• Governor

• Lieutenant Governor

• Secretary of State

• Controller

• Treasurer

• Attorney General

• Insurance Commissioner

• Member, State Board of Equalization, District 2

• State Assembly, District 29 and District 30

There are no write-in opportunities for the offices listed above. The candidate’s party preference (or "None") always appears on the ballot. Candidates may have the same party preference.

Local and Nonpartisan Contests

County, Local and Other Nonpartisan Offices

The party preference will not appear on the ballot because these offices are nonpartisan.

• Associate Justices of the Supreme and Appellate Courts

• State Superintendent of Public Instruction

• City offices

• School District offices*

• Special District offices *

*In the event there are no nominees or an insufficient number of nominees for a local office, appointment is made as prescribed by EC 10515 & 10229.

• County Board of Supervisor, District 2**

• Sheriff/Coroner**

* *Because no candidate received over 50% of the votes cast in the primary, the two candidates with the most votes will appear on the ballot in the general election. The candidate’s party preference never appears on the ballot.

Important dates

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@co.monterey.ca.us

When will results be certified?

Election officials have until December 8, 2022 to certify results. The deadline for certified results for the San Ardo Union Elementary School District Governing Board Member Election has been extended for a special election for a portion of the district. The portion includes approximately 30 voters whose voting area was not associated with the district in the election management system.

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.

Where can I learn more about running for office?

For more information related to running for office, please visit the Candidates Information Page and Candidate Guidelines.

Why is the person I normally vote for not a candidate on my ballot?

You may be in a new division within a district. As a result of redistricting following the U.S. Census, Monterey County experienced significant boundary changes at all levels of government. In some cases, districts moved from an at-large method of voting to a by-division method of voting. In this case, candidates must reside within certain boundaries to run for office. Please visit our Districts page for more information.

Who can vote in the General Election?

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

What is on the ballot?

In the Statewide General Election you can vote for:

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

• Congressperson,

• State Assembly Member,

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

• State propositions, and

• Local measures.

*State Senate 17 will be on the ballot in 2024.

Which federal and state candidates can I vote for?

The two candidates who received the most votes in the June Primary Election will be on the ballot in the Statewide General Election. These seats include:

• California legislators for your area: State Assembly Member (you must reside in the area)

• U.S. Offices: House of Representatives (you must reside in the area)

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

These seats follow the Top-Two Primary rules and will therefore have no write-in space.

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

• County Board of Supervisor, District 2: if no candidate receives over 50% of votes cast in the primary election, the two candidates with the most votes will be on the ballot in a run-off election.

• Sheriff/Coroner: if no candidate receives over 50% of votes cast in the primary election, the two candidates with the most votes will be on the ballot in a run-off election.

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.

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.

Why do candidates for local offices (Board of Supervisors, Sheriff, Mayor, etc.) not have their party preference listed on the ballot?

The local contests, Board of Supervisors, Sheriff, Mayor, etc., are nonpartisan offices and candidates do not run with a political party label on the ballot.

What does party preference mean?

Party preference indicates the party the candidate is associated with as a registered voter. Voters may either register with a political party preference or "no party preference" if they are not affiliated with a qualified political party.

A candidate's party preference does not necessarily mean that they have that political party's support. The list of candidates who receive an official party endorsement is in the county voter information guide.

Can I vote for candidates who are not in my party?

Yes. You can vote for any candidate on your ballot.

Do the “Top-Two” primary rules apply to all races?

Top-Two rules do not apply to races for local offices. Only state constitutional offices, state legislative offices, U.S. Congress offices and U.S. Senate offices fall under the “Top-Two” rules.

Do the Top 2 candidates have to be from different parties?

The Top 2 candidates might be from the same party, different parties, or have “no 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 if I write in a cartoon character or some other unqualified write-in name?

Only qualified candidates may receive write-in votes. These are candidates who, in advance of the election, signed an oath stating that they meet the qualifications of office and that, if elected, they will serve. No votes will count toward someone who has not filed official papers.

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. Please 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 just outside the boundaries for the City of Salinas. You can always contact Monterey County Elections to verify your districts.