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

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

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 coming Friday: The LA mayor's race and LA County sheriff's race
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

Civics education is struggling. How one South LA school teaches ‘nitty-gritty’ work of democracy

At Ánimo Pat Brown Charter High School, government class is an opportunity to register to vote, meet local elected officials and shape their community.
Panicked California Democrats are pushing a risky strategy: Wait till the last minute to vote

Liberal California activists are urging Democrats to wait until the last minute to vote in the race for governor, then support the frontrunner in the polls.
Introducing Voter Game Plan+: New features for LAist’s popular voter guides

An election toolkit with enhanced features is free to all LAist members, and to all others for a $7 fee. Our voter guides remain free for all.
Few California teenagers preregister to vote a decade after given the option

The pre-registration program could jumpstart the civic lives of young voters, who’ve been historically underrepresented at the polls.

Listen 0:45
A look at the top candidates vying to be California’s controller

Republican Herb Morgan is challenging Democratic incumbent Malia Cohen for oversight of California’s spending.
Steve Hilton talks to LAist about why he should be California's next governor (Transcript)

The California gubernatorial candidate and former UK political advisor discussed housing, taxes and more.

Listen 25:58

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.