Voter Guides

Your guide to LA County races

LAist is helping you cast your ballot in dozens of races in Southern California, including the always-hard-to-choose judges.

Los Angeles mayor: Who's running in the June 2 primary and why it matters

Los Angeles County Superior Court Judges: Who's running in the June 2 primary and why it matters

LA City Attorney: Who's running in the June 2 primary and why it matters

Measure ER: What you need to know about the proposed sales tax hike in LA County

Your guide to Orange County races

Orange County guides

LAist is helping you cast your ballot for top races in Orange County, including the always-hard-to-choose judges.

OC Auditor-Controller: Who's running in the June 2 primary and why it matters

Your guide to the Orange County Assessor race

Orange County Superior Court Judges: Who's running in the June 2 primary and why it matters

Your guide to the OC Treasurer-Tax Collector race

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

Imperfect Paradise: Voter Game Plan series

Part 1: What you need to know about the June primary elections

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All month long on Imperfect Paradise, we’re bringing you a special series devoted to the June primaries.
Part 2: Judges, one of your toughest ballot tasks. What to consider

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Traffic ticket disputes. Child custody cases. Theft. Voters decide which Los Angeles and Orange County superior court judges rule on these kinds of cases and other daily issues that directly affect how we live. Though multiple local judges are up for a vote on the June primary ballot, finding information about these candidates can be trickier than other races. In the second installment of our voter game plan series, LAist Reporter Cato Hernández discusses each of the judicial candidates and shares some important tips from a former judge.

Check out Cato's Voter Game Plan guides on the LA and OC Superior Court judges at LAist.com/vgp
Part 3: The races for LA mayor and LA County sheriff heat up

Listen 25:09

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Spotify

The stakes are high for two of the most high profile local races on the June primary ballot.
Part 4 coming May 22: Everything you need to know about Orange County

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.

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

Latest election news

Even while courting moderates on voter ID, GOP leaders still push debunked fraud narrative

Republicans call their voter ID ballot measure ‘common sense’ to appeal to moderate voters, while alienating liberals with election conspiracy theories.
Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals hears Trump administration’s request for California voter data

The court heard oral arguments Tuesday in Pasadena.

Listen 0:10
Write-in candidates in SoCal are no joke. Election officials require them to qualify

While many write-ins are already in, Tuesday is the deadline to be considered. The full list will be released to the public Friday.
What is California's ‘jungle primary’ — and why does it matter so much for the governor’s race?

this system is different from how most states handle their primary elections.
Insurance commissioner candidates float bigger California role

From a public wildfire authority to a state backstop, California insurance commissioner candidates propose greater state involvement.
Fireworks are back on Inglewood’s ballot just 1 year after the city initially banned them

An initiative to make some firework use and sales legal again in the city is on the ballot for the June 2 special election.

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.

More 2026 election news

Fellow governor candidates call on Swalwell to drop out after sexual assault allegations

Major organizations also are reviewing endorsements following a report in the San Francisco Chronicle alleging he assaulted a former staffer. Swalwell denied the allegations.
Civics & Democracy

Trump’s divisive role in California politics is on display as GOP prepares election endorsements

Trump's endorsement of Steve Hilton for governor over Chad Bianco has upended the California GOP's strategy, forcing the party to refocus on other races.
Civics & Democracy

Trump endorses Steve Hilton for California governor, giving GOP a front-runner

He and Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco are the only two Republicans among the 10 notable candidates in the primary field.
Education

California’s next governor to face tough choices for education as state budget tightens

Ideas for financial relief include increasing money for special education, funding districts by enrollment, not attendance, and raising annual cost-of-living adjustments.
Civics & Democracy

Two Republicans are fighting for California governor. Why a tie is their best strategy

Steve Hilton and Chad Bianco need to split the vote nearly evenly to lock Democrats out of the race. Their strategy? Attack each other relentlessly.
Civics & Democracy

California governor’s race: See the candidates’ incomes and tax payments

Here’s a snapshot of the incomes and taxes of the top candidates for California governor. Billionaire Tom Steyer dwarfs them all.