About the Political Parties
in California

When you sign up to vote, you will be asked if you want to join a political party. A political party is a group of people who share the same ideas about what government should do.  They work together to try to win elections.  There is no cost to join a party. You can also choose not to join a party by marking “decline to state” on the voter registration form. If you want to change your party, fill out anew registration form.

Your party choice affects what kind of ballot you will get in this Primary Election: 

	If you are registered with a political party, your ballot will only have candidates from your party for partisan offices.
	If you registered “decline to state” (not with a party), you have a choice of ballots in this election. You can ask for one of these parties’ ballots: American Independent, Democrat or Republican. Or, you will get a “nonpartisan” ballot with no candidates listed for partisan offices.

Some of the partisan offices in this election are Governor, U. S. Senator, U.S. Congressperson, State Senator and State Assemblyperson. Nonpartisan offices include the State Superintendent of Public Instruction and local officials. All ballots will have nonpartisan offices and ballot measures.  Everything on your ballot will be listed in the Sample Ballot mailed by your county elections office.

There are seven parties in California.   We asked each one what they stand for.  You can use what the parties say to help you decide which one to join.  Or, you can mark “decline to state” on your voter registration form if you do not want to join a party.

Find out more about the political parties by using the menu on the left. Or, click on a party name below:

• American Independent Party
• Democrat Party
• Green Party
• Libertarian Party
• Natural Law Party
• Peace & Freedom Party
• Republican Party

	Download a printable PDF copy of these Political Party Statements.
			(Updated April 2006)
			Politcal Party Statements (English)
			Politcal Party Statements (Spanish)
			Politcal Party Statements (Chinese)
			Politcal Party Statements (Korean)
			Politcal Party Statements (Vietnamese)

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