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POLITICAL PARTIES

ON THIS PAGE:

• What is a political party?
• Why join a political party?
• How to join a political party
• What is a "qualified" political party?
• Currently "qualified" political parties
• Other political parties
• If you wish to be "Independent"...

WHAT IS A POLITICAL PARTY?

A political party is a group of people who try to determine public policy and operate government by getting their candidates elected to office.

WHY JOIN A POLITICAL PARTY?

If you join a political party you can elect members to the party central committee which governs the party. You can help to select the party's candidates and you can work to elect members of the party to political offices. You are not required to work for the party, to contribute money to the party or to vote for the party's candidates. If you want to be active in the political party you should contact party officials. See also "voting in a primary election".

HOW TO JOIN A POLITICAL PARTY

You join (or affiliate with) a political party by checking that party's box on the voter registration application form. If you checked "decline to state" when you registered and now wish to affiliate with one of the parties you must re-register by filling out a new voter registration application and checking the box of one of the political parties. You may change your party affiliation at any time by re-registering.

WHAT IS A "QUALIFIED" POLITICAL PARTY?

Only seven political parties are currently qualified to run candidates for partisan offices on the California ballot. See political party qualification for more information.

CURRENTLY QUALIFIED POLITICAL PARTIES IN CALIFORNIA

Read an overview of all political parties.

Check the parties' official websites for information about a party's beliefs and how to contact the party for more information.

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

OTHER POLITICAL PARTIES

If you check the box marked "Other" on the voter registration application form you may write in the name of any political party not listed on the form.

IF YOU WISH TO BE "INDEPENDENT"

If you do not wish to join any political party you should check the "decline to state" box on the voter registration application form. Read more about how this affects voting in a primary election.