Civics & Democracy

LAist’s coverage of civic life and citizen issues in Southern California. We cover elections, examine who gets listened to and why, and provide a guide for anyone who wants to more fully participate in civic life.

Grand jury indicts former FBI director James Comey for a second time

The case revolves around a photo the former FBI director posted online last year of seashells on a beach arranged to say "8647."

Listen 3:49

LA Mayor Bass says she's releasing a plan to address the city's infrastructure problem

A woman wearing a cream-colored pants suit sits on a chair behind a microphone.

Huntington Beach ordered to pay $1M in legal fees for censoring library books

Listen 0:42

Two women stand in a library aisle in front of shelves of books. One visible title reads "Own Your Period."

Most OC residents want a path to legal status for immigrants. Most Republicans don’t

A person holds a sign that readers "No human is illegal".

LA County judge up for re-election accused of violating ethics rules

An elderly light skinned man wearing a blue jacket and red spotted tie is sitting in an outside space; an official flag is on a flagpole next to him

More Stories

How Do I Register To Vote In California?

The deadline to register to vote in California for the Nov. 5 general election is Oct. 21.
How Do I Vote By Mail In California?

From dropping off your mail-in ballot to getting a replacement, we've got your questions about voting by mail in the Nov. 5 general election covered.
LA County Board of Supervisors District 2: Who's Running In The March 5 Primary Election And Why It Matters

The winner of District 2 will join a five-member board that oversees a county of about 10 million residents, more than the population of most states.
LA County Board of Supervisors District 4: Who's Running In The March 5 Primary Election And Why It Matters

The winner of District 4 will join a five-member board that oversees a county of about 10 million residents, more than the population of most states.
LA County Board of Supervisors District 5: Who's Running In The March 5 Primary Election And Why It Matters

The winner of District 5 will join a five-member board that oversees a county of about 10 million residents, more than the population of most states.
Homelessness: How To Vote In LA's March 5 Primary If It's Your Top Issue

Knowing what a candidate considers to be the drivers of homelessness is crucial to understanding how they'll approach the problem.
LA County Central Committees: Who's Running In The March 5 Election And Why It Matters

These committees make party endorsements, which gives them quite a bit of influence, but there's not much information on the candidates. We asked some experts for advice.
Public Safety: How To Vote In LA's March 5 Primary If It's Your Top Issue

Start with the facts on what is actually happening with crime.
4 Races To Pay Attention To If You're Short On Time To Research Your LA Ballot

City Council, Board of Supervisors, District Attorney, and Board of Education have the biggest impact on your daily life.
LAUSD School Board: Who's Running In The 2024 Primary And Why It Matters

The pandemic made the district's existing challenges worse, including issues around enrollment, student learning, attendance, and mental health.
California Proposition 1: More Than $6 Billion For Behavioral Health

Prop. 1 is a measure on the March ballot that would shift much of California’s millionaires tax for mental health services towards housing for people with mental illness.
LA City Council District 2: Who's Running In The 2024 Primary Election And Why It Matters

It's an open field for this San Fernando Valley district. Current Councilmember Paul Krekorian can’t run again because of term limits.

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Civics & Democracy