Registration counts: L2 Data · Updated October 25, 2026

California Voter Registration

& Party Affiliation Statistics

Total Registered

22,683,898

Largest Party

Democratic (44.54%)

Independent / NPP

27.15%

Primary Type

State:Nonpartisan Top-Two

Pres:Semi-Closed Primary

Overview Registration Primary Rules Independents Turnout

At a Glance

California at a Glance

Key voter registration statistics · Updated 2026

Registered Voters

22,683,898

of 27.2M eligible

Registration Rate

83.3%

eligible population

Independent / NPP

6.2M

27.15% of registered

2024 Turnout

62.3%

of eligible voters

Registration

Voter Registration by Party

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

44.5%

25.1%

27.2%

Democratic44.5%

Republican25.1%

Independent27.2%

Other3.2%

Party	Registered Voters	% of Total
Democratic	10,103,823	44.5%
Republican	5,702,227	25.1%
Independent	6,158,651	27.2%
Other	719,197	3.2%

Party registration among California voters aged 18–29

Among California’s 4.3 million registered voters aged 18–29, 45% are Democrats, 33% are No Party Preference (including American Independent), 17% are Republicans and 4% belong to other parties.

Answered directly from the voter file with Voter Count

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 →

Independents

Independent Voter Growth

Independent registration trend in California

Independent Registration Over Time

6,158,651

Independent 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%^[1] 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

83.3% registered

22,683,898 registered27,225,259 eligible

4,541,361 eligible Californians are not registered to vote.

Recent Elections

Election	Turnout	Voted
2024 General	62.3%	16,140,044
2022 General	42.9%	11,146,610
2020 General	68.8%	17,785,151
2022 State Primary	33.2%	7,285,230
2024 Presidential Primary	35.0%	7,719,218

Primary turnout figures reflect all voters regardless of party registration. Source: each state’s Secretary of State Statement of Vote.

Independent voters deserve a voice.

Join thousands of Americans fighting for nonpartisan election reform. Get data-driven updates, not partisan spin.

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