Graphic of Official Election Mail Authorized by the U.S. Postal Service next to text that says Voter Update

No Party Preference Cross-over Ballot Notice & Application Mailers Sent

Author: Erin Clausen
Date: 12/12/2023 10:14:32 AM

SLO County voters registered as No Party Preference received a mailer this week outlining cross-over voting in the March 5 Primary Election.

This week, SLO County voters registered as No Party Preference (NPP) received a cross-over notice and ballot application in their mailboxes.

Those voters who declined to provide a political party preference when registering to vote (or who registered with an unknown or unqualified political party) are considered No Party Preference/NPP voters, and the primary ballot they receive by mail for the March 5, 2024, Primary Election will not have presidential candidates on it. This only applies to presidential candidates, and all other contests will appear on their ballot.

If an NPP voter wants to vote for U.S. President, they must request a ballot with presidential candidates from one of the following parties:

  • American Independent
  • Democratic
  • Libertarian

If they want to vote for the Green, Peace and Freedom, or Republican parties' presidential candidates, they must re-register with that specific party.

In the November General Election, NPP voters will automatically be able to vote for any presidential candidate still in the contest, regardless of party.

To request a cross-over primary ballot from the American Independent, Democratic, or Libertarian party, NPP voters have the choice to:

  • complete and return the application in the mailer they received
  • go to slovote.com/March2024 and access an application, then submit it by mail, email, fax or in person to the SLO County Elections Office
  • call the SLO County Elections Office at 805-781-5228

Voters who choose to re-register can do that online through the California Secretary of State's web site, by calling the SLO County Elections Office to request a voter registration card, or by completing a new registration card in person at the Elections Office. Please note that anyone doing this must re-register by February 20 to receive their updated primary ballot by mail.

There is an NPP Voter Fact Sheet with more information here on the slovote.com web site.

What if voters are currently registered to vote with a qualified political party?

Those who are registered with any of the following qualified political parties can only vote for that party's presidential candidates in the March 5, 2024, Primary Election:

  • American Independent Party
  • Democratic Party
  • Green Party
  • Libertarian Party
  • Peace and Freedom Party
  • Republican Party

Anyone registered with one of those parties must re-register to vote for another party's presidential candidate.