So you think Christmas crept up on you fast this year? Well, the voting in the 2008 presidential election in California begins in just over two weeks. Forget about Iowa and New Hampshire. The presidential action will be right here in the Golden State under the compressed primary schedule.

With relaxed early voting laws, you don't have to wait until Feb. 5 to cast your ballots in the California presidential primary. Absentee ballots will be available to the state's voters beginning Jan. 7. You can actually vote that day if you pick up your ballot at your county elections office. If you don't want to do that, your sample ballot and absentee ballot request form should land in your mailbox a few days after Jan. 7.

And for those who still like to go to the polls -- that's so last century -- you'll have to wait until Feb. 5 to vote at your neighborhood polling place. But that's only 47 days from now. So get ready.

Do you know who you are voting for in the presidential election? Rudy Giuliani is leading the Republican candidates in California, according to the Field Poll. Hillary Clinton leads the Democratic pack among California voters.

In addition to the presidential contests, there are seven ballot propositions to be decided by California voters. Are you up on this batch of propositions? Proposition 91 is a transportation measure and Proposition 92 is a community college funding measure. Proposition 93 would loosen California's term limits law. Propositions 94 through 97 would overturn gambling compacts already approved for California's four richest tribes.

Once you vote in this election, you can get ready for the June primary for all the other races besides the presidency. And then the general election is in November. Happy voting in 2008.