Voter Guides

The Voter Game Plan team is hard at work

LAist reporters and editors are gearing up to provide you the election guides and coverage you rely on.

What we'll be covering

The race for L.A. mayor, city attorney and other offices.
State ballot measures, including the so-called billionaire tax proposition.
Local ballot measures, including charter reform measures in the city of L.A., school bonds and more.
Runoffs for two Orange County Board of Supervisors seats.
Judicial races.
Community college districts.
And more.

Key dates

Oct. 5: Officials begin mailing ballots to registered voters. Early voting sites open.
Oct. 19: Last day to register to vote in the Nov. 3 general election. (Check your registration status here.)
Oct. 20 through Nov. 3: Same day registration available.
Oct. 24: Vote centers open in L.A. and Orange counties.
Nov. 3: Election Day. Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Nov. 10: Final day for ballots postmarked on or before Election Day to be received by county election officials.

Your guide to LA County races

LA County guides

Check back in as LAist helps you cast your ballot in dozens of races in Southern California, including the always-hard-to-choose judges.

Your guide to the Los Angeles mayoral race

Los Angeles City Attorney: Who's running Nov. 3 and why it matters

LA City Charter Amendment PRK: Requiring the city to spend more on parks

Your guide to Orange County races

Orange County guides

Check back in as LAist helps you cast your ballot for top races in Orange County, including the always-hard-to-choose judges.

Join us in person

Oct 7

AirTalk’s Ballot Cram Session
- The Crawford
  474 S. Raymond Ave., Pasadena
Election day is just around the corner, get your notepads and pencils ready — it’s time for a one-hour cram session.
Oct 13

Orange County Ballot Cram Session
- OASIS Senior Center
  801 Narcissus Ave, Corona Del Mar
Sharpen your pencils and get out your notebooks — it’s time for a cram session!
Oct 21

Judicial Elections Ballot Cram Session
- The Crawford
  474 S. Raymond Ave., Pasadena
LAist reporter Cato Hernández has been covering judicial elections since 2022 and they will help you navigate these particularly challenging pages on your ballot.

What questions do you have about this election?

You ask, and we'll answer: Whether it's about who's funding the campaigns or how to track your ballot, we're here to help you understand the 2026 election.

More election news

Inglewood is facing a $30.8M budget deficit. A ballot measure could have major impact

This projected deficit would be the largest the city has seen in decades, according to budget records, despite 10 years of development driven by the city’s stadiums.
Prop. 39: The Voter ID measure that would dramatically change voting in California

Proposition 39 is the controversial voter ID initiative that could bring big changes to California's elections.
Prop. 38: The billion-dollar bond measure for immunology research

Proposition 38 is an initative for California to borrow $8.4 billion in bonds. Some critics say half of the money would end up at one research group.
LA County will start mailing ballots this week for November election

Counties across the state are expected to begin sending out ballots by an October 5th deadline.

Listen 0:34
Prop. 1: Should California borrow $11.25 billion to build more affordable housing?

Most California renters are officially classified as cost-burdened. Should the state borrow billions of dollars to build more apartments for low-income residents?
Supreme Court gives OK to Trump's voter database. California says it won't use it

The Supreme Court ruled last week the Trump administration can use its "SAVE" system to check citizenship status on voter rolls.

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Election videos

High school seniors vote for the first time in South L.A.

A woman in a cream blazer sits in an armchair, gesturing with both hands while speaking into a podcast-style microphone on a stand. A purple-to-orange color overlay tints the photo.

Karen Bass defends Inside Safe program

L.A. mayoral candidate Nithya Raman speaking into a mic while wearing a pink blazer and a black blouse and pants.

The next LAPD chief needs ‘courage’ with ICE, says mayoral candidate Nithya Raman

A man in a dark blazer and open-collar light shirt sits in an upholstered chair, speaking into a microphone with his right fist raised. He wears glasses and a small pin on his lapel. A blue-to-red gradient overlay covers the image. Partial text on a banner behind him.

How Xavier Becerra would fix CA's homeless spending if elected governor

Claude Parrish (left) and Janet Conklin (right) are photoshopped next to each other with a blue and red background. Parrish sports a suit with a yellow and black striped tie while Conklin stands in a blue dress while holding a microphone.

OC assessor candidates both surrounded by controversy

Rae Huang sits and talks into a mic while wearing glasses, a black blazer and white top.

LA’s budget tells us what we value, says mayoral candidate Rae Huang

About California's new congressional districts

Federal judges uphold California’s new congressional maps favoring Democrats

The ruling denies a request by California Republicans and the Trump administration for a preliminary injunction blocking the maps created by Proposition 50.
How Prop 50 is shaping 2026 and what it means for SoCal voters

The vote isn't certified yet, but a lot has happened since Election Day.
Half of California voters turned out for Prop 50. Here's how SoCal voted

Statewide turnout was 50%. It was lower in L.A. County and higher in Orange County.