Save the Date: Voting - Updated for June 2
By Jay Eilers and Liz Scheffler, Managing Editors at The Union
Voters head to the polls in key primaries across six states today, including California, Iowa, Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico and South Dakota. The biggest contest of the night is California’s race to succeed Gov. Gavin Newsom. (Editor Note: We have included the state government links to voting information above. We also have some types of primaries notations below for fledgling political nerds. We have re-purposed some generally helpful information if you know someone in need of a ride to the polls.)
Know Your Rights at the ballot box is universal. - Anyone can help people to vote.
The best action on Election Day is give people the information needed for their vote plan and give people a ride to the polls.
If you are local and have a car, then drive people in need with appropriate caution. You can also help network, regardless of your location, to send a electronic gift card for gas (after researching the prices and distances) or for a ride share service.
Digital share is one of the most effective and overlooked methods of voter contact.
If you encounter anyone with questions on how to vote or a story about what happened when they voted, please encourage them to contact Voter Protection.
Start with any friends or colleagues in the states mentioned, message them directly, depending on your relationship - to keep it private and personalize it - but if you are not sure, share a general protect the democratic process everywhere message.
Year Round multi-lingual Election Protection Center. 1-866-OUR-VOTE.
You can share their website. You can direct message them via the website.
Fire House, Caucus, Ice Cream, Open and Jungle Primaries
What does a Fire House, Caucus, Ice Cream, Open and Jungles have in common?
They’re types of candidate selection processes where the voters identify a general election candidate. Each has benefits and drawbacks. Some are quick decisions; others take a few days after the election ends for the results. The winners will advance to the final, general election. As we are in the thick of the 2026 primary season, let us take a moment to look at each method, benefits, cautions and outcomes.
A Fire House primary is an echo of the old days when voters would assemble at a central location and select a candidate. Each party may hold a firehouse primary. Candidates may make speeches or answer questions, but voting is by private ballot, with results announced shortly after the election is concluded.
A Caucus is a much louder, more raucous Fire House primary. Members of a party assemble, discuss the candidates and then decide, as a group, which candidate will be supported. At the end a candidate is selected base on a consensus decision. The drawback is everyone who wants to vote must attend a caucus.
Rank Choice primaries have been described as “ice cream” primaries. Voters in each party rank their top three candidates. Through a series of voting rounds and eliminations, a consensus candidate emerges, supported by the majority. A good analogy is selecting a single ice cream flavor for a large dinner. Everyone attending ranks their top three ice cream flavors. In the first round, all flavors are tallied, and if no flavor has 50.1% of the vote, the lowest scoring ice cream flavor is discarded, and votes for the discarded flavor move to their second choice. The vote is taken again, and if no ice cream flavor reaches 50.01%, the total, the lowest scoring ice cream flavor is discarded, and the vote is taken again. When there is an ice cream flavor reaching over 50.01% of the vote, voting ends and the winning flavor is announced. While this takes much longer than the Fire House and Caucus, in theory the best consensus candidate is selected.
An open primary allows voters to cross party lines and vote in the opposition candidates primary. It is still one ballot, one vote, but can be outside your party affiliation.
A Jungle primary allows voters to vote in both R and D primaries. Every primary voter is given a list of candidates to select from. The top two candidates, regardless of party affiliation, win the primary and move to the general election. This could result in one candidate from each party. It can also result in two candidates from the same party running against each other in the general election. A party with a long candidate list may dilute its performance, allowing the opposition candidate to capture the top two vote slots.
Previous Content for Texas Primary Runoff - May 26
How To Link/ Find Your Polling Place
More on the election for both primaries
Texas Tribune - Primary Runoff
The views and opinions expressed by volunteer contributors are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the positions of The Union, a single issue organization that welcomes all and is dedicated to protecting democracy. Please donate to support The Union