Voting Process

League of Women Voters^®
of Los Angeles

How to Register to Vote, Election Calendar & Much More!

"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

HOW TO REGISTER
Pick up a registration form at the Office of the City Clerk, the Post Office, Library, banks, most County buildings, State Motor Vehicle offices, public assistance offices, the Fire Department, the Registrar of Voters or the Office of the League of Women Voters Office.

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. You can also request a form from the Secretary of State's Office.
For more detail read the Guide to Voter Registration (PDF).

ARE YOU A NEW RESIDENT?
Voters who have moved within 15 days of the election without notifying the L.A. County Registrar's Office of the address change, may vote at the polling location for either the new or prior residence address or at the Registrar/Recorder/ County Clerk's Office in Norwalk.

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

LOCAL ELECTIONS
City elections 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 March and November ballots are ballot measures, bond acts, constitutional changes and propositions.

SAMPLE BALLOTS
All registered voters will receive a sample ballot approximately three weeks before each election. The location of your polling place is designated on the back. Study and mark the sample ballot. Take it with you to the voting booth as a guide.

VOTING MATERIAL
Before each election, official sample ballot pamphlets containing candidate and measure information are sent to all registered voters to assist in making informed choices before voting.

VOTE BY MAIL BALLOTS Any voter may apply for a mail-in ballot up to 7 days before the election. No special reason is required. The back cover of your Sample Ballot is pre-addressed form to request a mailed ballot. A stamp is required.
You can also request to vote by mail online. Go to http://www.lavote.net and click on the yellow box entitled "Vote by Mail" on top of the page. http://www/lavote.net/VOTER/Absentee_Voting.cfm
There is also an application for permanent vote by mail status on http://www.lavote.net but you can not apply online. You must download the form, fill and sign, and mail it to the County Registrar's office. You can also call or write to request permanent vote by mail status (See address above). Once you receive permanent vote by mail status you will automatically receive a ballot in the mail without re-applying each election. You will have permanent vote by mail status until you fail to vote in two statewide general elections (4 years) or your request cancellation.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:

Where do I go to vote? Where is my polling place? Your polling place is listed on the back of you Sample Ballot. It will also tell you whether or not the polling place is accesible. If you do not have your sample ballot, you can look your polling place up at the Smart Voter Website. or call the County Registrar at (562)466-1310.

Touchscreen Voting; What is it and how can I try it? This is a method of voting in which you go to one of the designated touchscreen voting places throughout the county and touch a screen to vote instead of inking a card. Anyone can do this. It is available a few weeks before election day. To get a map of all county locations, visit the website of the LA County Registrar of Voters.

What services are available for voters with disabilities?

accessible polling places wherever possible

wheelchair accessible voting booths

large type voting instructions and magnifying devices at polling
places

large ball voting stylus for grasping difficulties

cassette tapes with state and county ballot measures

absentee/vote-by-mail and permanent absentee/vote-by-mail voting options

touchscreen voting systems' headset voice prompter device for blind and visually impaired voters

Comments, suggestions, questions? Contact our webmaster. Last revised: August 30, 2010 11:44 PDT.