Skip to main content
Voter file data: L2 Data · Registration counts: California Secretary of State · Updated May 4, 2026

California Voter Registration

& Party Affiliation Statistics

Total Registered
23,092,098
Largest Party
Democratic (44.96%)
Independent / NPP
22.65%
Primary Type
State:Nonpartisan Top-Two
Pres:Semi-Closed Primary
OverviewRegistrationPrimary RulesIndependentsTurnout
At a Glance

California at a Glance

Key voter registration statistics · Updated 2026

Registered Voters
23,092,098
of 27.2M eligible
Registration Rate
84.8%
eligible population
No Party Preference
5.2M
22.65% of registered
2024 Turnout
62.1%
of eligible voters
Registration

Voter Registration by Party

How many registered Democrats, Republicans, and Independents are in California?

44.96%
25.14%
22.65%
Democratic44.96%
Republican25.14%
No Party Preference22.65%
Other7.25%
PartyRegistered Voters% of Total
Democratic
10,381,34044.96%
Republican
5,804,69925.14%
No Party Preference
5,231,18922.65%
Other
1,674,8707.25%
Primary Rules

How California's Primary Works

California uses different primary rules for state/congressional and presidential elections

State / Congressional

⚖
Nonpartisan Top-Two
All candidates appear on a single ballot regardless of party. All registered voters can participate. The top two vote-getters advance to the general election.
How It Works
There is one primary ballot for everyone. Candidates list their party preference, but voters aren't limited by it. The two candidates with the most votes advance, even if they're from the same party.
IVP's Position
This is the reform IVP pioneered in California with Proposition 14 (2010). It gives every voter an equal voice in every election and forces candidates to compete for all voters, not just partisan bases.
Learn about Proposition 14 →|See all primary systems by state →

Presidential

⚖
Semi-Closed Primary
Registered party members vote in their own party's primary. Unaffiliated voters may choose a party primary to participate in, but voters registered with a different party cannot cross over.
How It Works
If you're registered Democrat, you vote in the Democratic primary. If you're registered Republican, you vote in the Republican primary. If you're unaffiliated, you can pick either; you may need to formally affiliate at the polls.
IVP's Position
An improvement over closed primaries, but still ties the system to party labels. Voters shouldn't have to join a private organization to participate in publicly funded elections.
See all primary systems by state →
IVP Legal Work

IVP Cases in California

The Independent Voter Project has filed, argued, or intervened in the following cases affecting California voters.

Proposition 14 — California Top Two Primary

Authored Initiative

View case →
San Diego Measure K — Nonpartisan November Elections

Authored Initiative

View case →
Boydston v. Padilla

In the Courtroom

View case →
Boden v. Secretary of State

In the Courtroom

View case →
Rubin v. Bowen

In the Courtroom

View case →
Independents

Independent Voter Growth

No Party Preference registration trend in California

NPP Registration Over Time
18%20%22%24%26%18.18%200620.18%201020.94%201324.95%201822.9%202222.65%2025
5,231,189
No Party Preference voters in California
That's nearly 1 in 4 registered voters, more than the entire Republican registration.
Why It Matters
In most states, independent voters are locked out of primary elections, the stage where 83% of congressional seats are decided. California's Top-Two Primary changed that.
See how your state compares →
Turnout

Voter Turnout in California

How many eligible Californians actually vote?

Eligible vs Registered
84.8% registered
23,092,098 registered27,225,259 eligible
4,133,161 eligible Californians are not registered to vote.
Recent Elections
ElectionTurnoutVoted
2024 General62.1%16,140,044
2022 General42.9%11,146,610
2020 General68.8%17,785,151
2024 Presidential Primary34.96%7,719,218
Independent voters deserve a voice.
Join thousands of Americans fighting for nonpartisan election reform. Get data-driven updates, not partisan spin.
Explore Other States
ALAKAZARCACOCTDEDCFLGAHIIDILINIAKSKYLAMEMDMAMIMNMSMOMTNENVNHNJNMNYNCNDOHOKORPARISCSDTNTXUTVTVAWAWVWIWY
← Back to National Voter Data Hub