Officially, Election Day is March 3, but voting gets underway this week and continues every day until March 3. In addition to the presidential primary, there are local races of importance to Northeast L.A., including the race for Member of Congress for NELA; for City Council in Council District 14; for School Board in Board District 5 and for L.A. County District Attorney.
Here’s what you need to know and do to register to vote, vote by mail or vote in person.
VOTER REGISTRATION:
If you have already registered to vote, you do not need to re-register unless you change your name, residence or mailing address, or wish to change or select a political party.
If you are not registered to vote, the last day to register on time is February 18. You can register to vote online at registertovote.ca.gov or call the Secretary of State’s Voter Hotline at 800-345-VOTE (8683) to get a form mailed to you. Or, pick up a form at most post offices, libraries, and city and county government offices.
If you are not registered and you miss the February 18 registration deadline you have until 8 p.m. on Election Day, March 3, to “conditionally” register to vote in the primary. To “conditionally” register, fill out a voter registration card at your county’s vote center, polling place or elections office. That will allow you to vote, but your ballot won’t be counted until your registration is processed.
VOTE BY MAIL: Ballots for the March 3 primary are in the mail.
If you registered as a permanent vote-by-mail voter, look for your ballot in the mail any day now.
If you are not registered to vote-by-mail, but would like to vote by mail, you must request your vote-by mail ballot no later than February 25. To get a vote-by-mail ballot, go to vote.ca.gov and fill out the vote-by-mail application.
Casting your vote by mail: You can fill out and mail in your ballot as soon as you receive it. Use the official envelope included with the ballot. No postage is needed. Sign the envelope where directed.
Deadlines: A mail-in ballot must be postmarked on or before March 3 and must be received no later than March 6. Or you can drop off a mail-in ballot at your county elections office, any vote center or polling place in California, or any ballotdrop off location before polls close at 8 p.m. on March 3.
VOTING IN PERSON starts on February 22 and goes until March 3.
Vote centers throughout Los Angeles have replaced traditional polling places. You can vote in person at any vote center in your county.
Some vote centers open on February 22, for a full 11 days of voting through Election Day, March 3. Many more vote centers open on February 29, for 4 days of voting through Election Day, March 3.
Here are the locations for 18 vote centers in Northeast Los Angeles. These vote centers are open daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., except on March 3, when vote centers are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. (To find other vote center locations and times in L.A. County, visit: locator.lavote.net/locations/vc)
Eagle Rock
February 22 through March 3: Greater Los Angeles Agency on Deafness / 2222 Laverna Avenue / Dining room
February 29 through March 3:
Eagle Rock Plaza / 2700 Colorado Boulevard / Room 108
Eagle Rock Recreation Center / 1100 Eagle Vista Drive / Multi-purpose room
Rockdale Elementary School / 1303 Yosemite Drive / Multi-purpose room
Occidental College / 1600 Campus Road / Lower Herrick
Highland Park
February 29 through March 3:
Yorkdale Elementary / 5657 Meridian Street / Auditorium
Arroyo Seco Library / 6145 N. Figueroa Street/ Community room
Highland Park Senior Center / 6152 N. Figueroa / Community room
San Pascual STEAM Magnet Elementary / 815 San Pascual Avenue / Library
All Saints Episcopal Church / 5619 Monte Vista Street / Parish Hall
Ramona Convent Community Center / 4580 N. Figueroa Street / Multi-purpose room
Cypress Park
February 29 through March 3: Loreto Street Elementary / 3408 Arroyo Seco Avenue / Auditorium
Elysian Valley
February 22 through March 3: Elysian Valley Recreation Center / 1811 Ripple Street / Classroom
February 29 through March 3: Dorris Place Elementary / 2225 Dorris Place / Auditorium
Glassell Park
February 29 through March 3:
Glassell Park Recreation Center / 3650 Verdugo Road / Multi-purpose room
Sonia Sotomayor Arts & Sciences Magnet / 2050 San Fernando Road / Multi-purpose room
Hermon: Hermon Community Methodist / 5800 Monterey Road / Fellowship Hall
Montecito Heights
February 22 to March 3: Montecito Heights Senior Center / 4545 Homer Street / Foyer, Lobby
