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Deadline today to register to vote in race for Becerra's former congressional seat
Former U.S. Rep. Xavier Becerra, now California attorney general, delivers remarks at the Democratic National Convention on July 28, 2016 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. A special election to fill his House seat is scheduled in about two weeks.
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Deadline today to register to vote in race for Becerra's former congressional seat
You've got just a few hours left if you haven't yet registered to vote in the upcoming special election to fill the congressional seat left open with the appointment of state Attorney General Xavier Becerra.
You may remember that former Attorney General Kamala Harris’ election to the U.S. Senate in November set off a series of changes that resulted in the open House seat. Becerra succeeded Harris as California's attorney general and that opened his old office to a large field of competitors.
About 306,000 registered voters are eligible to pick the new representative for the 34th Congressional District, which includes such Los Angeles communities as Koreatown, Eagle Rock, Monterey Hills, Chinatown and Highland Park. Downtown Los Angeles also falls within the district's boundaries.
If you’re a district resident and not yet registered to vote, you can still add your name to the voter rolls. Today is the last day to register online in time to cast a ballot. You can do so until midnight.
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You should also update your voter registration information by the deadline if you have recently moved.
The special primary election is scheduled in about two weeks on Tuesday, April 4. Los Angeles County officials estimate the election will cost $1,371,000. Registered voters have until March 28 to ask for vote by mail ballots, which can be requested online.
In all, 23 candidates are competing, which means a runoff election is likely. That special general election is set for June 6.
For information on the candidates, you can attend an election forum on Wednesday hosted by Elex Michaelson of ABC7. The event is open to the public and starts at 7 p.m. at Eagle Rock High School, 1750 Yosemite Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90041.
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But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
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