Commentary: California, for a change, is key to the primaries

Every four years voters have a chance to choose their preference for president of the United States during their respective state party’s nomination process.

If you’ve paid attention to the progression that began in January, you’ve seen some states hold caucuses and others conduct primaries. Colorado even held a caucus of a caucus to select delegates and circumvented traditional voting.

For decades, California was nothing more than afterthought. Time and time again, nearly every candidate dropped out of the race by the time our state’s voters went to the polls. In 2008, the state Legislature fruitlessly moved the presidential component of the election up from June to February. This proved nothing more than a boondoggle, as that year’s nominee was all but confirmed. The idea fizzled and our primary elections returned back to June.

This year, voters can actually make a difference. For the Republican Party, the candidate with the most votes in each of California’s 53 Congressional districts receives three delegates. In addition, the candidate who receives the most votes statewide earns an additional 13 delegates, for a total of 172.

For the Democratic Party, 475 delegates are chosen proportional to the percentage won in each of the state’s 53 Congressional districts, plus the proportional results statewide. Democrats also have 73 super delegates, party leaders who can choose whomever they wish to support, regardless of the final results.

A warning to Californians: be prepared to receive an onslaught of election-related information. Our airwaves, mailboxes and front doors will be littered with campaign material. You will not be able to watch TV without being barraged by advertisements. Since every congressional district matters, you will not escape hearing, seeing or bearing witness to some sort of political propaganda.

For a political junkie like myself, I can’t help but be excited! Never before have we seen such an interesting presidential process pan out. There is a very serious likelihood that no Republican will secure enough delegates to be nominated at their July convention, and California could be the root of that. It’s too early to see if the Democrats will have a similar issue, but nonetheless, their votes will matter too.

One interesting side note is that both Democrats and voters without a party preference can select a Democratic candidate. However, only registered Republicans can vote for a Republican candidate. If you have a preferred candidate, and you want to vote for them, it’s important to note that the last day to register under that political party is May 23.

So get out there and become involved. Being a part of the process is the fabric of our nation, and what our founding fathers envisioned for our future. The cornerstone of our Republic is based on this system and being a simple bystander prevents you from having a say. For the sake of our country’s future, become engaged and participate.

ERIK WEIGAND is a Newport Beach planning commissioner, district director for a California state senator and a candidate for the Republican Central Committee.