What you need to know to vote in the California gubernatorial primary

Only a week until election day and only 8% of returned ballots so farmillions of voters in California are still deciding the election. But here at CalMatters, we listen, we don’t judge—so we have a guide for last-minute voters to catch you up on what you need to know, such as:

Who is leading in the polls?

The latest Democratic poll shows Republican Steve Hilton and Democrat Xavier Becerra leading at 22 percent and 21 percent, respectively, with Tom Steyer in third place at 15 percent.

What is an open primary course and why do we have it?

California’s open primary allows the top two vote-getters to advance to the November general election, regardless of party affiliation. The state adopted this system after voters approved Proposition 14 in 2010, which allows voters to choose any candidate in the primary, regardless of their own party affiliation.

This system allows two candidates from the same political party to potentially advance, which is a real possibility this year due to the large number of candidates running for governor and the fact that there is no clear frontrunner.

Is it too late to vote by mail?

Mailed ballots must be postmarked on or before Election Day and received by election offices within seven days. To make sure your ballot is counted, it’s best to mail it in at least five days before June 2, or Thursday.

How can I vote on Election Day?

In addition to mailing it in, you can drop your ballot off at a drop-off location or vote in person at polling stations from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Find your nearest polling place here and your closest ones place to post newsletters here.

Check out ours last-minute voter guide here. And for more comprehensive information, read CalMatters’ a complete guide for voterswhich has the lowdown on other state offices, state legislative races and congressional elections, and a governor’s Q&A with the leading candidates.