Skip to content
CapRadio

CapRadio

signal status listen live donate
listen live donate signal status
listen live donate signal status
  • News
    • topics
    • State Government
    • Environment
    • Health Care
    • Race and Equity
    • Business
    • Arts and Lifestyle
    • Food and Sustainability
    • PolitiFact California
  • Music
    • genres
    • Classical
    • Jazz
    • Eclectic
    • Daily Playlist
  • Programs + Podcasts
    • news
    • Morning Edition
    • All Things Considered
    • Marketplace
    • Insight With Vicki Gonzalez
    • music
    • Acid Jazz
    • At the Opera
    • Classical Music
    • Connections
    • Excellence in Jazz
    • Hey, Listen!
    • K-ZAP on CapRadio
    • Mick Martin's Blues Party
    • Programs A-Z
    • Podcast Directory
  • Schedules
    • News
    • Music
    • ClassicalStream
    • JazzStream
    • Weekly Schedule
    • Daily Playlist
  • Community
    • Events Calendar
    • CapRadio Garden
    • CapRadio Reads
    • Ticket Giveaways
  • Support
    • Evergreen Gift
    • One-Time Gift
    • Corporate Support
    • Vehicle Donation
    • Stock Gift
    • Legacy Gift
    • Endowment Gift
    • Benefits
    • Member FAQ
    • e‑Newsletter
    • Drawing Winners
    • Thank You Gifts
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Close Menu
 We Get Support From:
Become a Supporter 
 We Get Support From:
Become a Supporter 
  • PolitiFact California
  •  

Recycled Facebook Post Falsely Claims Independents In California Are Blocked From Voting Republican In 2020

  •  Chris Nichols 
Thursday, June 18, 2020 | Sacramento, CA
Andrew Nixon / CapRadio

A Sacramento County voter drops their ballot off at a vote center March 3, 2020

Andrew Nixon / CapRadio

If Your Time Is Short: 

  • California’s independent voters had to re-register with the GOP to vote for Republican presidential candidates in the state’s March primary. 
  • A Facebook post that circulated ahead of the primary was reposted in June suggesting independents must do this again for the November general election.
  • That’s wrong. Voters can select the candidate of their choice, no matter their party affiliation in the general election. 
  • The Facebook post also falsely claimed that California made the rules requiring a change of registration. In reality, political parties decide whether independent voters can participate in their presidential primary elections every four years. 

PolitiFact California looks at claims made by elected officials, candidates and groups and rates them as: True, Mostly True, Half True, Mostly False, False and Pants On Fire.

A Facebook post that gained traction ahead of California’s presidential primary in March has new life, but spouts some of the same misleading information. 

The post — reposted to Facebook June 6 — claims California’s registered independents must re-register with the GOP “to vote republican come 2020.” It also alleges, without evidence, that the state came up with this requirement “hoping no one figures it out in time.” 

It was flagged as part of Facebook’s efforts to combat false news and misinformation on its News Feed. (Read more about PolitiFact California’s partnership with Facebook).

We fact-checked similar misinformation ahead of the primary. But with this post re-circulating, we decided to set the record straight, again.  

Differences Between California’s Primary and General Elections

According to the California Secretary of State’s Office, political parties — not state officials  — decide whether and how the state’s independent voters, also known as No Party Preference voters, can participate in each party’s presidential primary election. 

The restrictions make it more difficult but not impossible to vote for your favorite candidate. For example, the Democratic party required California’s more than 5 million registered independents to request a “crossover ballot” in March to vote for a Democratic presidential candidate. But it did not force them to re-register.

By contrast, the Republican party required independent voters to register with the GOP to participate in its primary. So, the warning in the first part of the Facebook post was correct — for the March primary. 

These requirements, however, do not apply to California’s November general election.

“The assertion in that Facebook post is absolutely not true,” Sam Mahood, spokesperson for the California Secretary of State’s Office, wrote in an email this week. “In a General Election you can vote for any candidate, regardless of the voter’s party.” 

Mahood cited California Elections Code section 13206.5, which covers statewide general elections and states:

“All voters, regardless of the party preference they disclosed upon registration, or refusal to disclose a party preference, may vote for any candidate for a voter-nominated or nonpartisan office.”

Our ruling

A resurfaced Facebook post claims California’s registered independents must re-register as Republicans to vote for GOP candidates “come 2020.” It also alleges that California came up with this rule “hoping no one figures it out in time.” 

The first part was correct for the March primary. But it doesn’t apply to California’s November general election, when voters can select the candidate of their choice, no matter their party affiliation.  

The second part is false. The political parties, not the state, set the rules for participating in presidential primaries. 

This post was partially-wrong the first time. Now, the whole thing is wrong.

We rated it False.  

FALSE – The statement is not accurate.

Source List

Facebook post, June 11, 2020

Sam Mahood, spokesperson, California Secretary of State’s Office, email exchange June 16, 2020

PolitiFact California, There’s A Lot Of Misinformation About California’s March Primary Election. Here Are The Facts., Feb. 11, 2020

CapRadio, California Election Officials Address Confusion Over No Party Preference Voting In State’s Presidential Primary, Jan. 6, 2020

California Elections Code, section 13206.5.

Associated Press, Independents in California can vote Republican in 2020 presidential election, June 16, 2020


Follow us for more stories like this

CapRadio provides a trusted source of news because of you.  As a nonprofit organization, donations from people like you sustain the journalism that allows us to discover stories that are important to our audience. If you believe in what we do and support our mission, please donate today.

Donate Today  

 PolitiFact California

Chris Nichols

PolitiFact California Reporter

For the past dozen years, Chris Nichols has worked as a government and politics reporter at newspapers across California.  Read Full Bio 

 @christhejourno Email Chris Nichols

Coronavirus Newsletter

Get answers to your questions, the latest updates and easy access to the resources you need, delivered to your inbox.

 

Want to know what to expect? Here's a recent newsletter.

Thanks for subscribing!

We'll send you weekly emails so you can stay informed about the coronavirus in California.

Browse all newsletters

Most Viewed

Downtown Sacramento shooting: What we know and latest updates

With California budget surplus projected at $97 billion, Newsom proposes driver rebates, more reproductive health funding

California coronavirus updates: US may be vulnerable to COVID-19 come this fall and winter season

U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla will appear on California’s June primary ballot twice. Here’s why.

Omicron FAQ: How long does COVID-19 last in a room? Can cloth masks be safer? Can I reuse an N95 mask?

We Get Support From:
Become a Supporter

Most Viewed

Downtown Sacramento shooting: What we know and latest updates

With California budget surplus projected at $97 billion, Newsom proposes driver rebates, more reproductive health funding

California coronavirus updates: US may be vulnerable to COVID-19 come this fall and winter season

U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla will appear on California’s June primary ballot twice. Here’s why.

Omicron FAQ: How long does COVID-19 last in a room? Can cloth masks be safer? Can I reuse an N95 mask?

Back to Top

  • CapRadio

    7055 Folsom Boulevard
    Sacramento, CA 95826-2625

    • (916) 278-8900
    • Toll-free (877) 480-5900
    • Email Us
    • Submit a News Tip
  • Contact Us

  • About Us

    • Contact Us / Feedback
    • Coverage
    • Directions
    • Careers & Internships
    • Mission / Vision / Core Values
    • Press
    • Staff Directory
    • Board of Directors
  • Listening Options

    • Mobile App
    • On Air Schedules
    • Smart Speakers
    • Playlist
    • Podcasts
    • RSS
  • Connect With Us

    •  Facebook
    •  Twitter
    •  Instagram
    •  YouTube
  • Donate

  • Listen

  • Newsletters

CapRadio stations are licensed to California State University, Sacramento. © 2022, Capital Public Radio. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Website Feedback FCC Public Files: KXJZ KKTO KUOP KQNC KXPR KXSR KXJS. For assistance accessing our public files, please call 916-278-8900 or email us.