More than eight in ten eligible Californians are registered to vote.

• As of July 2024, about 22 million of California’s 26.9 million eligible adults (82%) were registered to vote.
• The current registration rate is nearly identical to the share in February 2020 (83%), the year of the last presidential election.
• Along with voter registration, voter enthusiasm will play a big role in the general election in November.

Likely voters lean Democratic and are ideologically mixed.

• In our surveys over the past year, 48% of likely voters—registered voters who cast ballots frequently and are politically engaged—report that they are Democrats, while 26% are Republicans, 24% are independents, and 2% are registered with other parties.
• Among infrequent voters, 44% are Democrats, 35% are independents, 19% are Republicans, and 2% are registered with other parties.
• Ideologically, 37% of likely voters are politically liberal, 35% are moderate, and 28% are conservative. Among infrequent voters, 27% say they are liberal, 54% are moderate, and 19% are conservative.

Independent likely voters are equally likely to lean Democratic or toward neither major party.

• Among independent likely voters, 38% lean toward the Democratic Party, while 24% lean toward the Republican Party, and 38% report that they lean toward neither major party or are unsure.
• Among independent infrequent voters, 30% lean Democratic, 18% lean Republican, and 52% lean toward neither party or are unsure.
• Among unregistered adults—including noncitizens—40% lean Democratic, 14% lean Republican, and 47% lean toward neither party or are unsure.

Likely voters are disproportionately white.

• Whites make up only 38% of California’s adult population but comprise 50% of the state’s likely voters. In contrast, Latinos make up 36% of the adult population but just 26% of likely voters. Asian Americans make up 16% of adults and 15% of likely voters, while 5% of both adults and likely voters are African American. Those who identify as multiracial or “other race” make up 3% of the adult population and 4% of likely voters.
• A majority of unregistered adults, including noncitizens, are Latino (56%); fewer are white (21%), Asian American (16%), or African American (4%).

Likely voters tend to be older, more educated and affluent, homeowners, and US born.

• Californians age 55 and older make up 35% of the state’s adult population but constitute half (50%) of likely voters. Young adults (age 18 to 34) make up 31% of the population but only 21% of likely voters, while adults age 35 to 54 account for 34% of the population and 29% of likely voters.
• Three in four adults in the state either have some college education (30%) or are college graduates (34%) but make up eight in ten likely voters (37% some college, 42% college graduates). Thirty-seven percent of the state’s adult population have no college education, compared to 21% of likely voters.
• Fifty-eight percent of likely voters have annual household incomes of $80,000 or more, while 24% earn between $40,000 and $79,999 and 18% earn less than $40,000.
• About seven in ten likely voters are homeowners (69%), while 31% are renters. In contrast, 65% of unregistered adults and 60% of infrequent voters are renters.
• Eighty-three percent of likely voters and 80% of infrequent voters were born in the United States, compared to just 43% of unregistered adults.