A candidate who is listed on the general election ballot as a Libertarian is considered

Voters not affiliated with a qualified political party (also known as No Party Preference Voters) may vote a ballot of a qualified political party allowing participation by non-affiliated voters.

For the 2020 Presidential Primary Election, the following parties have agreed to allow non-affiliated voters to vote their party’s ballot for the President of the United States contest:

Democratic Party

American Independent Party

Libertarian Party

NOTE: The other qualified parties did not agree to allow non-affiliated voters to vote their party’s ballots.

Beginning in 2020, all voters will automatically receive a vote-by-mail ballot.

If you are not affiliated with a qualified party, and would like to request a ballot for the Democratic Party, American Independent Party, or the Libertarian Party click here.

Click here to see the No Party Preference Voters Frequently Asked Questions

As a voter registered with an unqualified or unknown political party, you will have the same options as a voter registered with No Party Preference for the March 3, 2020, Presidential Primary Election. The American Independent, Democratic, and Libertarian Parties allow No Party Preference voters to participate in their Presidential Primary Elections.

Beginning in 2020, all voters in Orange County will receive a vote-by-mail ballot

A postcard has been sent to you that will allow you to request an American Independent, Democratic, or Libertarian Party ballot. Once you make your selection, return it in the mail. You can also request one of these selections on our website at ocvote.gov/npp, by calling our office at 714-567-7600, or by sending a fax to 714-567-7556.
If you do not request a partisan ballot by returning the postcard, submitting the request on our website, or calling our office by the deadline, you will be mailed a ballot without any presidential candidates. If this happens, you can request a replacement ballot from your county elections official by:

• Submitting a request on our website
• Calling our office at 714-567-7600
• Email
• Fax to 714-567-7556
• Voting in person at a Vote Center beginning on February 22, 2020

If you choose to vote in person at a Vote Center beginning on February 22, 2020

Ask the Vote Center staff for a ballot with either American Independent, Democratic, or Libertarian Party presidential candidates when checking-in at the Vote Center.

Voting in the Green, Peace and Freedom, or Republican Party Primary

If you want to vote for the Green, Peace and Freedom, or Republican Parties' presidential candidates, you must re-register with that specific party.

You can re-register to vote online at ocvote.gov/register. If you need to re-register after February 17, 2020, you may need to register to vote in person at a Vote Center.

No Party Preference Additional Questions

The Secretary of State’s Office has advised the Registrar of Voters that three qualified parties are allowing voters not affiliated with a political party (No Party Preference voters) to vote for their parties’ candidates in the 2020 Presidential Primary Election.  The parties allowing non-affiliated voters to do so are the Democratic Party, American Independent Party, and the Libertarian Party.

The following are frequently asked questions concerning No Party Preference Voters:

As a No Party Preference Voter, why did I receive a postcard?
Since you are registered as No Party Preference, you received a postcard explaining that you have the option to vote for candidates of qualified parties if they notified the Secretary of State that they are allowing non-affiliated voters to do so. You can request a vote-by-mail ballot from the Democratic Party, American Independent Party or the Libertarian party by returning the postcard, or submitting a request online here. You can also call our office to make this request at 714-567-7600.

Why are only three parties listed on the postcard and not all the other qualified parties, including the Republican, Green, and Peace and Freedom Parties?
Only the Democratic, American Independent, and Libertarian Parties notified the Secretary of State that they are allowing non-affiliated (No Party Preference) voters to vote for candidates of their parties. 

Why didn’t the other parties allow No Party Preference voters to vote for their candidates?
This was a decision made by each political party, not the Registrar of Voters. Contact the political parties for more information.

If I am a No Party Preference voter, how can I request a ballot for the Republican Party, Green Party, or Peace and Freedom Party?
You need to re-register with that party. Click here to re-register.

If I do not request a Democratic, American Independent, or Libertarian Party ballot, will I be allowed to vote?
Yes, you will be allowed to vote. No Party Preference voters not requesting one of those ballots will be given a non-partisan ballot, containing only the names of the candidates for non-partisan (No Party Preference) offices, voter-nominated offices, and measures to be voted upon.

If I do request a Democratic, American Independent, or Libertarian Party ballot, will I now be registered with that party?
No, you will still be registered as a No Party Preference voter.  You will only be given a Democratic, American Independent, or Libertarian Party ballot for the 2020 Presidential Primary Election, if requested.

If I am a No Party Preference voter, am I considered a registered voter?
Yes, you are a registered voter but not affiliated with a qualified political party.

I’m an Independent Party voter. Am I considered a No Party Preference Voter?
A No Party Preference voter is one who did not register with one of the qualified political parties – Democratic, Republican, American Independent, Green, Libertarian, and Peace and Freedom.  The “Independent Party” is not a qualified political party, and voters who registered with this party will be treated in the same manner as a No Party Preference voter.

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The Texas Supreme Court on Friday rejected a Republican effort to remove a host of Libertarian candidates from the November ballot, saying the GOP did not bring their challenge soon enough.

In a unanimous opinion, the all-GOP court did not weigh in on the merits of the challenge but said the challenge came too late in the election cycle. The Libertarian Party nominated the candidates in April, the court said, and the GOP waited until earlier this month to challenge their candidacies.

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On Aug. 8, a group of Republican candidates asked the Supreme Court to remove 23 Libertarians from the ballot, saying they did not meet eligibility requirements. The Republicans included Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and others in congressional and state legislative races.

State law requires Libertarian candidates to pay filing fees or gather petition signatures, the amount of each depending on the office sought. The Libertarian Party has been challenging that law in federal court, arguing it is unfair because the fees do not go toward their nomination process like they do for Democrats and Republicans.

Republicans also tried and failed to kick a group of Libertarian candidates off the ballot in 2020. In that case, the state Supreme Court said the GOP waited until after the deadline to challenge candidate eligibility. This time, the Republicans filed their challenge before that deadline but apparently still did not satisfy the court’s preference to deal with election challenges as soon as the alleged issues arise.

In its opinion Friday, the court suggested the “emergency timeframe” argued by the GOP “is entirely the product of avoidable delay in bringing the matter to the courts.”

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"The Libertarian Party of Texas is thrilled with this outcome," Whitney Bilyeu, who chairs the Texas Libertarian Party, said in a statement. "As we did last time, we resisted this haphazard attempt by Republicans to limit voter choice and obstruct free and fair elections."

Republicans have long sought to marginalize Libertarians under the thinking that they siphon votes from the GOP. Democrats, meanwhile, see the Green Party as a threat.

Among the 23 races in which the GOP challenged Libertarian candidates this time, few are expected to be close. The most clear exception, though, is the 15th Congressional District, the most competitive congressional race in the state and a top target of Republicans nationwide. Libertarian Ross Lynn Leone will remain on the ballot there against Republican Monica De La Cruz and Democrat Michelle Vallejo.

Patrick’s race could also be competitive. He won reelection by 5 percentage points in 2018, while the Libertarian candidate then took 2% of the vote.

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