You can change your party affiliation online, by mail, or in person at your county elections office

California lets you change your party registration at any time. You do not need a reason, and there is no waiting period. The fastest way is through the California Secretary of State's online voter registration system, which takes about five minutes. If you prefer paper, you can mail a form or walk into your county elections office and update it on the spot.

Your new affiliation takes effect when ready for future elections. If you change your party close to an election, you may not be able to vote in that party's primary — California has a important date, usually 15 days before the election, for primary voting may be able to access. General elections have no party restrictions.

Key Takeaways

  • The California Secretary of State's online voter registration system is the fastest way to change your party, and the change takes effect right away.
  • You can also mail Form 14 (Statement of Voter Registration) or visit your county elections office in person to change your affiliation.
  • If you change your party within 15 days of a primary election, you will not be able to vote in that primary, but you can still vote in the general election.
  • You must be registered to vote in California before you can change your party affiliation; if you are not registered, you will need to register first.
  • Your county elections office can tell you your current party affiliation and confirm when your change has been processed.

Register or update online through the Secretary of State

Go to registertovote.ca.gov and select "Register to Vote or Update Your Registration." You will need your California driver's license or state ID number, your date of birth, and your current address. The system will pull up your existing registration and let you change your party affiliation without re-entering everything else.

After you submit, you will see a confirmation page. The change is processed within a few days, though it may take longer during heavy election periods. You can check the status of your registration by returning to the same website and entering your information again.

Mail Form 14 to your county elections office

read Form 14 (Statement of Voter Registration) from your county elections office website or the Secretary of State's website. Fill in your name, address, date of birth, and the party affiliation you want. You do not need to fill in every blank — just the party line.

Mail it to your county elections office. The address is on the form itself. Processing takes one to two weeks by mail, sometimes longer if the office is busy. If you want to know when it is processed, call your county elections office after a week and give them your name and date of birth.

Change your affiliation in person at the elections office

Walk into your county elections office with your ID and ask to update your party affiliation. You can find the office address and hours on your county's website — search "[your county] elections office." Bring a photo ID or any document with your name and address on it.

The staff will pull up your registration, you will tell them your new party, and the change is done on the spot. This is the fastest way if you are in a hurry, and you will get a receipt showing your updated information. Some counties also let you do this at certain DMV locations, though not all — call ahead if you want to try.

Understand the primary election important date

California has a 15-day cutoff before each primary election. If you change your party after that date, you cannot vote in that primary, but you can still vote in the general election in November. The important date applies to all voters, whether you change online, by mail, or in person.

For example, if a primary is on June 4, the important date to change your party and vote in that primary is May 20. If you change on May 25, your new affiliation is official, but you will receive a general election ballot instead. You can still vote in November as a member of your new party.

What happens if you are not yet registered to vote

If you do not have a California voter registration yet, you cannot change a party affiliation — you have to register first. Go to registertovote.ca.gov and complete a full registration. During registration, you will choose your party affiliation. Once you are registered, you can change it anytime using the methods above.

You can register online, by mail, or in person. Online registration takes a few minutes and is the fastest. The important date to register for an election is 15 days before that election, though you can register after that date for future elections.

Confirm your change was processed

After you change your party, check that it went through. Return to registertovote.ca.gov, enter your driver's license number and date of birth, and your registration will appear with your new party listed. You can also call your county elections office and give them your name and date of birth — they will tell you what party you are registered as.

If your change does not show up after two weeks, call your county elections office. Mail sometimes gets lost, and staff can resubmit your form or help you change it online over the phone. Keep the confirmation page or receipt you received, because it shows when you submitted the change.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my party affiliation the day before an election?

Yes, you can change your party any day. However, if the change happens after the 15-day primary important date, you will not be able to vote in that primary. You will still be able to vote in the general election as a member of your new party. General elections have no party affiliation important date.

What if I want to have no party affiliation?

You can register as "No Party Preference" (sometimes called independent or unaffiliated). Use the same methods — online, by mail, or in person — and select "No Party Preference" instead of a party name. You will still be able to vote in general elections, but you may not be able to vote in closed primaries depending on the party's rules.

Do I have to change my party to vote for a different candidate?

No. In the general election, you can vote for any candidate regardless of your party affiliation. Party affiliation only matters in primary elections, where some parties restrict voting to their own members. You can change your party before a primary if you want to vote in that party's primary, then change back afterward if you wish.

How long does it take for my change to show up on my voter registration?

Online changes usually process within a few days. Mail takes one to two weeks. In-person changes at the elections office are when ready. During heavy election periods, all methods may take longer. You can check your status anytime at registertovote.ca.gov.

Will changing my party affect my ability to vote?

No. Changing your party does not remove you from the voter rolls or affect your right to vote in general elections. The only impact is on primary elections — if you change after the 15-day important date, you cannot vote in that primary. You can always vote in November's general election.