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ELECTION FAQS

Open Primary Act

WHAT IS THE TOP TWO CANDIDATES OPEN PRIMARY ACT?

  • On June 8, 2010, California voters approved Proposition 14, which created the Top Two Candidates Open Primary Act. 
     

  • Allows all voters to choose any candidate regardless of candidate or voter political party preference (except for President and Central Committees).
     

  • This act requires that only the top two vote getters in a ‘Voter Nominated’ office will move onto the November General Election.

For more information, see the Alameda League’s visual explainer.

Judicial System in CA

  • HOW IS THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM ORGANIZED IN CALIFORNIA ?

  • HOW ARE JUDGES/JUSTICES APPOINTED OR ELECTED IN CALIFORNIA ?

 

California courts exist at three levels:

  • Local superior courts in each of California’s 58 counties,

  • Appellate courts in each of the six state appellate districts, and

  • The  California Supreme Court with statewide jurisdiction.

courts system.jpeg

Learn more about how judges and justices at all levels obtain their positions from our blog posting.

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FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) about the California Judicial System developed and published by a committee of the Santa Clara County League of Women Voters.

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Watch a video, "How to Elect Fair and Independent Courts", a panel discussion facilitated and recorded by the League of Women Voters of San Francisco.

RCV

Ranked Choice Voting

The Basics

What is Ranked Choice Voting (RCV) and why is it used?

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A system where voters choose their first- , second-, third-, fourth- and fifth-choice candidates for each office. It eliminates the cost and time needed for run-off elections.

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How long has RCV been used in Oakland?

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It was implemented starting in the 2010 Elections.​

Other Details

What if I rank the same candidate multiple times? 

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Your ranked vote will only count once per candidate, so it is the same as leaving the choices blank.

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Need more information? 

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Go to acvote.org/voting/rcv

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How Does It Work?

Round 1 of Vote Count

 

If a candidate receives more than 50% of the first-choice votes, that candidate is declared the winner. 

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Round 2 of Vote Count

 

If there is no winner from Round 1:

  • First, the candidate with the fewest
    first-choice votes is eliminated from the count

  • Second, the voters whose votes were eliminated have their second-choice votes added to the count

  • If any candidate now has more than 50% of the counted votes, that candidate is declared the winner

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Rounds 3 to 5 of Vote Count

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If there is no winner from from Round 2, a similar elimination and counting continues until one candidate receives over 50% of the counted votes.

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To reiterate...

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  • 2nd choice counted, only if 1st choice eliminated

  • 3nd choice counted, only if 1st & 2nd choice eliminated

  • 4th choice counted, only if 1st, 2nd, & 3rd choice eliminated

  • 5th choice counted, only if 1st, 2nd, 3rd & 4th choice eliminated

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