Exercising Your Right to Vote

"Those who stay away from the election think that one vote will do no good: 'Tis but one step more to think one vote will do no harm."
-Ralph Waldo Emerson

Smart Voter: Key in your address and zip code, see the contests on your ballot. Then find information on candidates and ballot measures -- from the League and other nonpartisan sources. Archives of past elections available with election results. Go to Smart Voter

REGISTER TO VOTE! ELIGIBILITY: You are eligible to vote if you are:

a citizen of the United States

eighteen years of age on or before the date of the election

a resident of California for 15 days by the day of the election

not in prison or on parole for the conviction of a felony

have not been judged by a court to be mentally incompetent to register to vote.

registered to vote

Voter registration is permanent, but you must reregister if you have moved, changed your name, or want to change your party affiliation.

HOW TO REGISTER (Los Angeles County)
You may register to vote by completing a registration-by-mail form. Forms are available throughout Los Angeles County at most County buildings, city halls, fire stations, libraries, State Deparment of Motor Vehicle (DMV) Offices, Public Assistance Offices (DPSS, WIC), Post Offices, and the office of the League of Women Voters. Fill out the form, sign and mail. Postage is free. The County Reigistrar of Voters will send you a card verifying your registration. Failure to vote in an election does not cancel your registration
Voter information and/or registration forms can also be obtained at the offices of the Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk (RR/CC) in Norwalk and all RR/CC district offices. Registration-by-mail forms may be requested by calling 562-266-1310 during regular business hours or the Voter Registration Request Line (800) 481-VOTE (8683) twenty-four hours a day, seven days per week. The Registrar-Recorder provides Registration forms and assistance in six languages other than English in compliance with federal and state laws (Spanish, Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese, Tagalog, and Korean).
For more detail read the Guide to Voter Registration (PDF).

WHEN TO VOTE
Polls are open from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

LOCAL ELECTIONS
Los Angeles Municipal Elections (for city offices) take place every odd-numbered year in March and May.

STATE AND NATIONAL ELECTIONS
The Primary Election is the first Tuesday following the first Monday in June every even-numbered years. This election is to nominate the candidates from each political party for the general election, which will be held in November of that year.

The General Election is the first Tuesday following the first Monday in November every even-numbered year.

Other items that may appear on the June and November ballots are ballot measures, bond acts, constitutional changes and propositions.

VOTING MATERIALS/SAMPLE BALLOTS
All registered voters will receive a sample ballot approximately three weeks before each election. This ballot shows the candidates and issues you will be voting on. The location of your polling place is shown on the back of the sample ballot pamphlet. Study and mark the sample ballot. Take it with you to the voting booth as a guide.

ABSENTEE BALLOTS
Any voter may apply for an absentee ballot up to 7 days before the election. No special reason is required. An application form is attached to your sample ballot, or you may write to:

Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk
Absent Voter Section
P.O. Box 30450
Los Angeles, CA 90030-0450
Tel:562/466-1323
You may also call or write to request permanent absentee voter status.

An absentee ballot must be mailed in time to reach the Registrar of Voters by election day, or it may be brought in person to the polls. A designated family member may bring your ballot to the polls for you.
For more detail, read Los Angeles County Absentee Ballot Voting (PDF).

WHERE DO I GO TO VOTE?
Your polling place is listed on the back of your Sample Ballot. It will also tell you whether or not the polling place is accesible to the disabled.
If you do not have your sample ballot, you can look your polling place up at the Smart Voter Website. or the Los Angeles County Registrar's Website .
If you need further information or direction to the Polling Place on election day, please call (800) 815-2666 or the number for the hearing impaired, (562) 462-2259. An automated system will prompt you to key in your ZIP code, date of birth, and street number. The system will interact with the voter registration database and obtain the Polling Place for the caller.

ARE SERVICES AVAILABLE FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES?
If you are interested in learning about election services available to assist persons with disabilities or senior citizens, please write to or call the Registrar-Recorder County Clerk at P.O. Box 1024, Norwalk, CA 90651-1024, telephone (562) 466-1323 or TDD (for the hearing impaired) (562) 463-2259

Comments, suggestions, questions? Contact our webmaster. Last revised: April 4, 2008 14:20 PDT.