What’s on the ballot, where to cast your ballot and how to register to vote if you haven’t yet

A guide for last-minute primary election voters

Politics
Ballot box in front of City Hall. Photo by Leslie Layton

Butte County voters have begun sending in their ballots, and with the Tuesday deadline approaching, there is about 17% turnout for the primary election and about 18% for the special election as of today, says Butte County Clerk-Recorder Keaton Denlay. 

In 2011, California passed the Top Two Candidates Open Primary Act, which requires a primary election prior to the November General Election to reduce the pool to two candidates for each race, regardless of political preference. Some offices are exempt from the act, such as city councils and county offices.

Mail-in ballots must have a signature that matches your voter registration and receive a postage stamp on or before Tuesday. To avoid any issues that would lead to a ballot not making it in time, Denlay recommends sending in ballots as soon as possible.

Ballots may also be dropped off at any of 10 secure drop-off boxes in Chico. (See list below.)

There is also still time to register to vote for the primary election. Aspiring voters will need to register online with your driver’s license or California Identification card number, with the last four digits of your Social Security number and with your birthday. Once registered, ballots can be picked up and delivered to a voter assistance location, listed as “Same Day Voter Registration” in the list below. 

Congressional District 1 voters received two ballots this primary season. One ballot is for the special election to finish the term of late congressman Doug LaMalfa. The seat has been vacant since LaMalfa’s passing Jan. 6. This election is exempt from the Top Two Candidates Open Primary Act, and if one of the candidates in the June 2 primary receives 50 percent plus one vote, that candidate wins the seat and there will be no need for the Aug. 4 special vacancy election.

More voters have submitted ballots for the special election so far, Denlay said. 

Voting locations for Chico are as follows:

Butte County Library – Chico: 24-hour ballot drop-off

Chapman Elementary School: 24-hour ballot drop-off

Chico City Hall: 24-hour ballot drop-off

Chico First Baptist Church: 

  • Open to receive completed ballots May 30 to June 1 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; June 2 from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
  • Same Day Voter Registration
  • Ballot drop-off location

Chico Masonic Family Center: 

  • Open to receive ballots May 23 to June 1 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; June 2 from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
  • Same Day Voter Registration
  • Ballot drop-off location

Chico State Bell Memorial Union: 

  • May 30 to June 1 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; June 2 from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
  • Same Day Voter Registration 
  • Ballot drop-off location
  • This location also has a 24-hour ballot box on the side facing Chestnut Street. 

Department of Employment and Social Services:

  • 24-hour ballot drop-off

Elks Lodge:

  • Open to receive ballots May 30 to June 1 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; June 2 from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
  • Same Day Voter Registration
  • Ballot drop-off location

Silver Dollar Fairgrounds: 

  • Open to receive ballots May 30 to June 1 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; June 2 from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
  • Same Day Voter Registration
  • Ballot drop-off location

Sol Mexican Grill (Luna Room):

  • Open to receive ballots May 30 to June 1 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; June 2 from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
  • Same Day Voter Registration
  • Ballot drop-off location

What will you see on your ballot?

  • Butte County voters will decide Measure P, which would separate the offices of the director of public works and the road commissioner. 

Legislature & Congressional races:

  • U.S. House California District 1
    • Two-year term beginning in 2027
    • Under new district lines following Proposition 50
  • U.S. House California District 1 (special election)
    • Under pre-Proposition 50 district lines
    • Will fill Doug LaMalfa’s seat until beginning of 2027
  • State Assembly District 3

Local Races: 

  • Assessor
    • Uncontested – Alyssa Douglass
  • Auditor-Controller
    • Uncontested – Graciela Gutierrez
  • Board of Supervisors District 2
  • Board of Supervisors District 3
  • Clerk Recorder
    • Uncontested – Keaton Denlay
  • Superintendent of Schools
    • Uncontested – Mary Sakuma
  • Treasurer-Tax Collector
    • Uncontested Troy Kidd

ChicoSol coverage of the races:

Statewide races:

  • Governor 
  • Lieutenant Governor
  • Secretary of State
  • Attorney General
  • Commissioner of Insurance
  • California Controller
  • State Board of Equalization District 1
  • Superintendent of Public Instruction
  • Treasurer

For more information on statewide races, see Cal Matters’ Voter Guide here.

Other resources: 

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