Welcome to The Election Beat, a weekly newsletter bringing you news and information about the election and uplifting the voices of readers like you.
By now, I’m sure at least one of your friends or family members has bugged you about how to approach the election. We don’t blame them – the races, the ballot measures, a new presidential candidate – it it’s a lot.
We’re here to help. This edition of The Election Beat newsletter will serve as a voter guide of sorts for residents in Boyle Heights and neighboring Eastside communities.
We won’t get into everything on the ballot – we’re zeroing in on local races and some key measures. But we will provide resources and voter guides that offer extensive dives into everything you need to know about the 2024 election – some in Spanish, too.
Save this, bookmark it, or share it with a friend. Help us spread the word and we’ll help get them off your back. Thank us later.
Where to cast your ballot
Remember, you can mail your ballot as soon as possible or vote in person at one of the many L.A. vote centers. Find out where to vote or drop off your ballot by:
- Searching for your Los Angeles location here
- Searching for your ballot drop-box here
- Texting “VOTE” to GOVOTE (468-8683)
- Calling the Secretary of State’s hotline at (800) 345-VOTE
Below are some of the vote centers open in Boyle Heights. The centers open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day, Nov. 5.
- Boyle Heights Senior Center (2839 E. 3rd Street)
- KIPP Promesa Prep (1241 S. Soto Street)
- Lou Costello Recreation Center (3141 E. Olympic Boulevard)
- Tenrikyo Church (117 N. Saratoga Street)
- Ramon Garcia Recreation Center (1016 S. Fresno Street)
- Ramona Gardens Boys & Girls Club (2830 Lancaster Ave)
- Malabar Street Elementary School (3200 Malabar Street)
If you missed the deadline to register to vote, you still have a chance. Learn more about same day voter registration here.
Tracking your ballot: Want to know when your ballot is mailed, received, and counted? You can actually track it using the WheresMyBallot tool.
Voter guides to check out
- LAist’s Voter Game Plan has an extensive list of resources plus it dives deeper into municipal and county proposals in Los Angeles. The guide is also available in Spanish.
- CalMatters’ 2024 Voter Guide offers information on state and federal elections in California, as well as explainers on the propositions you’re being asked to weigh in on. The guide is also offered in Spanish and other languages and can be printed into a PDF. Last, they offer a cool tool that let’s you see what’s on your local ballot.
- LA Times’ guide to the 2024 California election breaks down federal, state, county and local elections. The newspaper’s editorial board also has a list of endorsements.
- L.A. Public Press also has a guide to more voter guides here.
The local races we’re following
L.A. City Council
This role is responsible for creating local laws and voting on things like the mayor’s annual budget.
District 14 includes Boyle Heights, El Sereno, the majority of downtown L.A., parts of Lincoln Heights and Northeast L.A. See a full map.
Candidates:
Kevin de León – L.A. City Councilmember (incumbent)
Ysabel Jurado – Tenant rights attorney
California Assembly
The State Assembly along with the State Senate essentially serves as California’s Congress. State lawmakers draft and pass laws that govern the entire state.
District 52 spans most of East Los Angeles and Glendale, as well as the neighborhoods of Lincoln Heights, Atwater Village, Silver Lake, El Sereno and Mount Washington. See a full map.
Candidates:
Jessica Caloza – Women’s rights advisor
Franky Carrillo – Justice advocate/commissioner
District 54 includes the neighborhoods of Boyle Heights, Westlake, Koreatown, Pico-Union and Chinatown, as well as the cities of Vernon, Montebello and Commerce. See a full map.
Candidates:
Mark Gonzalez- Assembly District 54 director
John Yi- Public transit advocate
U.S. House of Representatives
Representatives are elected to two-year terms without term limits, so they’re on your ballot a lot.
District 34 includes Boyle Heights, City Terrace, El Sereno, Lincoln Heights, East L.A., Northeast L.A., Chinatown, downtown L.A., Koreatown, Pico-Union and Westlake. See a full map.
Candidates:
Jimmy Gomez – U.S. Representative (incumbent)
David Kim – Children’s court attorney
Los Angeles County District Attorney
This is a powerful and influential role that determines what crimes get prosecuted.
Candidates:
George Gascón – L.A. County’s District Attorney (incumbent)
Nathan Hochman – Criminal defense attorney
Measures and props to watch
L.A. ballot measures
Measure A: L.A. County sales tax to fund homelessness efforts– would repeal Measure H, a quarter-cent tax approved in 2017, and replace it with Measure A, a proposed half-cent tax to fund homelessness efforts.
Measure G: Expanding the L.A. County Board of Supervisors– would dramatically change the way Los Angeles County government operates. The proposal seeks to increase the Board of Supervisors from five to nine and establish the position of county CEO as an elected role.
Several L.A. city charter amendments on the ballot are proposed to reform and improve L.A. city government after a string of scandals at City Hall. Read more about Charter Amendment ER, which asks voters to consider a package to revamp L.A.’s Ethics Commission, and Charter Amendment DD, which would take redistricting away from politicians and give L.A. residents the power to determine council district boundaries.
Read more on L.A. city and County elections>>
California propositions
Proposition 2: Funding school facilities– would allow California to borrow $8.5 billion for K-12 schools and $1.5 billion for community colleges to repair and renovate existing facilities or construct new buildings.
Proposition 33: Stronger rent controls– would repeal current state law and prohibit the state from limiting the ability of cities and counties to to enact tougher forms of rent control on any type of housing.
Proposition 36: Penalties for drug and theft crimes– would reclassify some misdemeanor theft and drug crimes as felonies and in certain cases, people who possess illegal drugs would be required to complete treatment or serve up to three years in prison.
See a full list of California propositions>>
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