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State profile

California elections & voting

Electoral votes, voting rules, and presidential results for California.

How California votes

In 2024, California voted Democratic. It has backed the Democratic Party in its last 5 consecutive elections.

54
electoral votes
Voter IDNo-excuse absenteeEarly votingSame-day registrationAutomatic registration

Voting rules

No ID Required
Active

ID not required to vote in person

Voter ID
Effective: 1975

First-time voters who registered by mail may need to show ID

Universal Mail Voting
Active

All registered voters receive mail ballot automatically

Mail-In Voting
Effective: 2020

AB 860 made universal mail voting permanent after COVID emergency measures

29 Days Early Voting
Active

Early voting begins 29 days before election

Early Voting
Effective: 1978
Motor Voter Automatic Registration
Active

Citizens automatically registered when getting driver's license

Automatic Registration
Effective: 2018

New Motor Voter law automatically registers eligible citizens

Conditional Voter Registration
Active

Same-day registration available at voting centers

Same-Day Registration
Effective: 2017

Election history

How California has voted in presidential elections.

  • 2024DemocraticKamala Harris54 EV
  • 2020DemocraticJoe Biden55 EV
  • 2016DemocraticHillary Clinton55 EV
  • 2012DemocraticBarack Obama55 EV
  • 2008DemocraticBarack Obama55 EV
  • 1920RepublicanWarren G. Harding13 EV
  • 1916DemocraticWoodrow Wilson13 EV
  • 1912ProgressiveTheodore Roosevelt13 EV
  • 1908RepublicanWilliam Howard Taft10 EV
  • 1904RepublicanTheodore Roosevelt10 EV
  • 1900RepublicanWilliam McKinley9 EV
  • 1896RepublicanWilliam McKinley9 EV
  • 1892DemocraticGrover Cleveland9 EV
  • 1888RepublicanBenjamin Harrison8 EV
  • 1884RepublicanJames G. Blaine8 EV
  • 1880DemocraticWinfield Scott Hancock6 EV
  • 1876RepublicanRutherford B. Hayes6 EV
  • 1872RepublicanUlysses S. Grant6 EV
  • 1868DemocraticHoratio Seymour5 EV
  • 1864RepublicanAbraham Lincoln5 EV
  • 1860RepublicanAbraham Lincoln4 EV
  • 1856DemocraticJames Buchanan4 EV
  • 1852DemocraticFranklin Pierce4 EV

Timeline

2020s

2024
Election
Democratic
major

2024 Presidential Election

Kamala Harris won CA with 54 electoral votes

2020
Rule Change
Mail Voting
major

Universal Mail Voting

All registered voters receive mail ballot automatically

2020
Election
Democratic
major

2020 Presidential Election

Joe Biden won CA with 55 electoral votes

2010s

2018
Rule Change
Auto Registration
moderate

Motor Voter Automatic Registration

Citizens automatically registered when getting driver's license

2017
Rule Change
Same-Day Registration
moderate

Conditional Voter Registration

Same-day registration available at voting centers

2016
Election
Democratic
major

2016 Presidential Election

Hillary Clinton won CA with 55 electoral votes

2012
Election
Democratic
major

2012 Presidential Election

Barack Obama won CA with 55 electoral votes

2000s

2008
Election
Democratic
major

2008 Presidential Election

Barack Obama won CA with 55 electoral votes

1970s

1978
Rule Change
Early Voting
moderate

29 Days Early Voting

Early voting begins 29 days before election

1975
Rule Change
Voter ID
major

No ID Required

ID not required to vote in person

1920s

1920
Election
Republican
major

1920 Presidential Election

Warren G. Harding won CA with 13 electoral votes

1910s

1916
Election
Democratic
major

1916 Presidential Election

Woodrow Wilson won CA with 13 electoral votes

1912
Election
Progressive
major

1912 Presidential Election

Theodore Roosevelt won CA with 13 electoral votes

1900s

1908
Election
Republican
major

1908 Presidential Election

William Howard Taft won CA with 10 electoral votes

1904
Election
Republican
major

1904 Presidential Election

Theodore Roosevelt won CA with 10 electoral votes

1900
Election
Republican
major

1900 Presidential Election

William McKinley won CA with 9 electoral votes

1890s

1896
Election
Republican
major

1896 Presidential Election

William McKinley won CA with 9 electoral votes

1892
Election
Democratic
major

1892 Presidential Election

Grover Cleveland won CA with 9 electoral votes

1880s

1888
Election
Republican
major

1888 Presidential Election

Benjamin Harrison won CA with 8 electoral votes

1884
Election
Republican
major

1884 Presidential Election

James G. Blaine won CA with 8 electoral votes

1880
Election
Democratic
major

1880 Presidential Election

Winfield Scott Hancock won CA with 6 electoral votes

1870s

1876
Election
Republican
major

1876 Presidential Election

Rutherford B. Hayes won CA with 6 electoral votes

1872
Election
Republican
major

1872 Presidential Election

Ulysses S. Grant won CA with 6 electoral votes

1860s

1868
Election
Democratic
major

1868 Presidential Election

Horatio Seymour won CA with 5 electoral votes

1864
Election
Republican
major

1864 Presidential Election

Abraham Lincoln won CA with 5 electoral votes

1860
Election
Republican
major

1860 Presidential Election

Abraham Lincoln won CA with 4 electoral votes

1850s

1856
Election
Democratic
major

1856 Presidential Election

James Buchanan won CA with 4 electoral votes

1852
Election
Democratic
major

1852 Presidential Election

Franklin Pierce won CA with 4 electoral votes

This site explains the structure and history of U.S. federal elections and is not an official government resource. All data shown is for educational purposes only.