California Secretary of State Alex Padilla and State Senator Ricardo Lara (D-Bell Gardens) are calling for California voters to cast ballots earlier in the presidential primary.

California typically holds its presidential primary in June. The late timing reduces California’s influence in the presidential nomination process, according to Padilla and Lara, who introduced SB 568 to change the presidential primary to March.

“A state as populous and diverse as California should not be an afterthought,” Padilla said. “Moving up the California primary in 2020 makes sense and will give California voters a more significant role. By holding our primary earlier, we will ensure that issues important to Californians are prioritized by presidential candidates from all political parties.”

In 2008, California moved its presidential primary to February, resulting in the highest primary voter turnout since 1980. The goal of SB 568 is to move California’s presidential primary election to third after Iowa and New Hampshire.

Specifically, SB 568 calls for the California presidential primary to be held on the third Tuesday in March and authorizes the governor to move it even earlier if other states move up their primary elections. SB 568 will be considered in the state Senate Committee on Elections and Constitutional Amendments on Tuesday, April 18 at 1:30 p.m.

SB 568 would also move up primary elections for state offices and legislative races, eliminating potential voter confusion resulting from multiple election dates. An earlier presidential primary in 2020 will help engage new voters from the top of the ticket down to state legislative races, Lara said.