Voter Game Plan

Key 2026 dates

June 2: Primary election day
If your vote-by-mail ballot is postmarked by election day and received within seven days, it will be counted. Track your ballot here.
July 10
All primary results final.
Nov. 3
General election day

City races

County races

State races

Federal races

House of Representatives

Election videos

A man in a hat stands in front of a yellow voting machine.

Dates to know for the 2026 Southern California primary election

A stack of official voter ballots on top of one another.

Why the LA Mayor's race may not be on your ballot

An LA County sales tax hike is on the June 2026 ballot. Here's why

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

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

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

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

A man in a dark suit and blue tie sits in an upholstered chair and speaks into a microphone on a stand. A blue-to-red gradient overlay covers the image. Partial text on a banner behind him is visible but obscured.

How Antonio Villaraigosa would address ICE activity in CA if elected governor

A judge's mallet sitting on a brown desk.

Los Angeles judges races you should know

High-profile races

A person's hand places an envelope in a ballot box with the seal of of the City of Los Angeles.

Here are your choices for the next LA mayor

13 candidates are running against incumbent Karen Bass for L.A. mayor, a position that will face questions around policing, homelessness and the 2028 Olympic Games.

Your guide to LA County Superior Court Judges

Superior Court judges oversee courtroom proceedings and trials across all of Los Angeles County.
Your guide to candidates for LA city attorney

The city attorney oversees all litigation involving L.A. and works as a legal advisor to the mayor and City Council.
Measure ER: What you need to know

Voters will decide whether to raise L.A. County's general sales tax by a half-percent to backfill hospital and clinic budgets amid federal cuts to Medi-Cal.

City of LA

LA Unified School District

LA County

City of Long Beach

Pasadena

National

US House of Representatives

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

Voting FAQs

How to register to vote in California's June 2 primary

The deadline is May 18. But don't panic. Even if you miss that deadline, you still have options.
How do I vote in person in LA and Orange counties?

Here's everything you need to know about casting your ballot in person.
How to vote by mail in California's June 2 primary election

Your questions about voting by mail, answered.
Why isn't the LA City Council on my ballot?

Here's why you might not see the LA City Council — or the L.A. mayor — on your ballot this election.
How do I vote if I am experiencing homelessness?

What you need to know about voting if you are experiencing homelessness.
How SoCal officials verify your signature when you vote by mail

Every ballot filed in the upcoming primary election requires a voter’s signature. Here's a look at how the process to verify them works.
Why are there holes in my mail-in ballot envelope?

Don’t worry. They’re not for seeing your votes inside.
What should I do with an extra ballot?

Some voters have reported receiving ballots for old roommates, or got multiple ballots in the mail. Here's what to do.

Latest election news

Republican Steve Hilton to face Becerra in November in race for governor

Hilton advances to the November general election, where he’ll face longtime politician Xavier Becerra.
California insurance commissioner race is set: Kim vs. Allen

Two Democrats will compete in November to regulate the insurance market amid increasing climate change risks, aftermath of the L.A. fires.
California's attorney general refutes Trump's baseless claim of election fraud

President Donald Trump is casting doubt on the results of California's primaries.

Listen 4:19
Kalshi and Polymarket crack down on paid influencers claiming election fraud

Influencers are using prediction market odds to sow doubt in vote counting, in some cases in posts paid for by the companies themselves.

Listen 4:50
Another lead change? How to keep track of the vote counting in the 2026 primary

Major shifts have kept candidates and election-watchers on their toes, but that’s not unusual for California's vote-counting process.
Measure ER on track to pass as LA County ballot counting continues

L.A. County voters haven't rejected a sales tax in more than a decade.

Listen 0:46
California gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton says he believes Joe Biden won the 2020 election

During an interview on LAist's AirTalk with Larry Mantle, Republican candidate Steve Hilton talked about confidence in California's election results.

Listen 17:27
The top-two primary was supposed to change California politics. Did it flop?

California's top-two primary was designed to create moderate candidates and reduce partisanship. Instead, November races are as partisan as ever.
California youth on track to make up a larger share of 2026 primary electorate

The details are complicated — more Californians ages 18-34 are registered to vote, but they are returning their ballot at lower rates.

Listen 0:45
Five SoCal races we're watching as the vote count trickles in

As mail-in ballots are added to vote totals, some races are narrowing. Here's the latest on Measure ER, L.A. City Council District 9 and others.
LA mayor race: Bass will face Raman in November. Pratt is out

L.A. City Councilmember Nithya Raman gained enough votes, according to the Associated Press, pushing reality TV personality Spencer Pratt out of the runoff.
Long Beach voting results: Mayor Richardson claims large lead in reelection bid, may avoid runoff

Incumbent City Council members were also ahead in early returns, but votes remained to be counted.