August 30 is the deadline for California residents to register to vote in order to participate in the recall election of Gov. Gavin Newsom (D). Voters must postmark or deliver their ballot to a county elections office by that date. Newly registered voters may either participate in in-person early voting in specific counties or request a mail ballot.
Additionally, August 31 is the filing deadline for write-in candidates to run in the recall election. While voters may write in any person on the ballot, only write-in votes for candidates who have filed this paperwork will count in the final results. The secretary of state’s office is expected to publish a list of these write-in candidates on September 3.
The recall election will take place on September 14. The recall election will present voters with two questions. The first will ask whether Newsom should be recalled from the office of governor. The second will ask who should succeed Newsom if he is recalled. A majority vote is required on the first question for the governor to be recalled. The candidate with the most votes on the second question would win the election, no majority required.
Forty-six candidates, including nine Democrats and 24 Republicans, are running in the election. The candidates to receive the most media attention and perform best in polls so far are YouTuber Kevin Paffrath (D), 2018 gubernatorial candidate John Cox (R), radio host Larry Elder (R), former San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer (R), California State Board of Equalization member Ted Gaines (R), former Olympian and television personality Caitlyn Jenner (R), and Assemblyman Kevin Kiley (R).
Since 1911, there have been 55 attempts to recall a California governor. The only successful recall campaign was in 2003 when voters recalled then-Gov. Gray Davis (D). Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) was elected as Davis’ replacement.
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