This is the year to vote, to do your due diligence of down-ballot candidates and offices you may have never heard of.
The warm-up act is the California Primary Election, scheduled for June 7, when we’re voting to give incumbent L.A. Sheriff Alex Villanueva another four years or move on to a less controversial candidate, as Joel Bellman suggests.
We will also choose a new Mayor, a race that may come down to voting in billionaire real estate developer, Rick Caruso, who, according to KABC, has “loaned” $22 million to his campaign, or Karen Bass, who has represented Los Angeles in both Sacramento and Washington, DC for more than 14 years and made a lifetime commitment to fighting for social and economic justice. In a recent ABC7 mayoral debate, she was the only candidate who said she could not support Villanueva’s bid for reelection.
The Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk’s office began mailing ballots on Thursday, May 5, four days before the state deadline of May 9. As of early April, Los Angeles County had more than 5.5 million registered voters and every voter will receive a Vote-by-Mail (VBM) ballot that they can fill out and return as soon as they get them. May 23 is the last day to register to vote.
According to the registrar’s office, “This election has a long ballot with many contests and candidates. Voters should review the instructions carefully and remember to sign and date the return envelope before submitting their ballot.” (lavote.gov)
Voter’s Edge California, a comprehensive online voter guide in English and Spanish, offers comprehensive, unbiased information on candidates and ballot measures from the top of the ticket down to the local level for California voters. Voter’s Edge users can explore candidates’ priorities, endorsements and top donors, as well as ballot measure explanations and campaign funding. (votersedge.org/ca)
—Flavia Potenza
