How to Vote in the 2024 California Presidential Primary

By LILY TINOCO | Assistant Editor

Residents of Pacific Palisades have several options when it comes to casting a ballot in the 2024 California Presidential Primary on March 5.

“Voters in Los Angeles County have the option to cast their ballot in-person at a participating Vote Center,” according to the California Secretary of State website. “Vote Centers provide modern features to make voting safe, easy and convenient.”

In-person Vote Centers will be available beginning as early as Saturday, February 24.

The Meeting Room at Palisades Branch Library (861 Alma Real Drive), Pacific Palisades Presbyterian Church (15821 Sunset Boulevard), Rustic Canyon Recreation Center (601 Latimer Road) and Paul Revere Charter Middle School (1450 Allenford Avenue) are LA County Vote Centers, according to the LA County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk website.

They will be open March 2 through March 4 between 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. On Tuesday, March 5, the hours will be 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

“Vote Centers also serve as a Vote by Mail Ballot Drop Box location—no need to wait, simply drop off your voted ballot at the front,” according to the California Secretary of State website. “There are convenient and secure Ballot Drop Box locations open and available to voters throughout their communities … Ballot Drop Boxes provide voters with a safe, accessible and contact free method to return their voted ballot.”

Votes can be dropped off through March 5 at 8 p.m.

“If your ballot is postmarked by Election Day and received within seven days … by our department, we will process, verify and count that ballot,” the California Secretary of State website read. “By mail, remember, no postage is necessary.”

Same Day Voter Registration will be available for Californians who missed the deadline to register to vote or to update their registration information. Individuals can complete this process at the county elections office, a polling place or Vote Center.

In California, the Primary Election determines who will be on the November 5, General Election ballot. Voters will see a number of candidates running for a spot on the March ballot, but—in most cases—only two will make it to the General Election.

The Primary Election ballot will include candidates for running for President, the U.S. Senate—one for the six-year term, and another for the remainder of the current term, which is slated to end in January 2025—representatives in U.S. Congress and the California State Legislature and Proposition 1, a proposed law for California.

On a hyper-local level, the ballot includes Measure HLA and Los Angeles District Attorney.

For more information or to register to vote, visit lavote.gov.