From LA City Council races to California’s statewide offices, we’ve gathered voter guides, key dates, and explainers so you can quickly find what matters to you without digging through a dozen tabs.
The LA Local is partnering with LAist and CalMatters to help you cast your ballot. We won’t tell you how to vote, we’ll give you the facts so you can make an informed decision.
Key 2026 dates
- April 23 – May 12: Voter information goes out from the state and counties.
- May 4: Mail-in ballots sent to voters by this date. Vote centers open. Find vote centers for L.A. County.
- May 5: Ballot drop boxes must be open. Find locations for L.A. County.
- May 18: Last day to register online to vote. Register here.
- June 2: Primary election day. If your vote-by-mail ballot is postmarked by election day and received within seven days, it will be counted. Track your ballot here.
- July 10: All primary results final.
- Nov. 3: General election day.
LA City
LA County
Los Angeles Unified School District
Neighborhood level guides
Koreatown, Pico Union, Westlake
Boyle Heights & East LA
Inglewood & South LA
It’s not on the ballot yet, but it’s something for LA residents to look out for come November
CalMatters’ statewide voter guide
CalMatters’ 2026 Voter Guide is here to break down key races, tell you who’s bankrolling each campaign, help you register to vote and find your polling place, and give you all the other information you’ll need to make your vote count.
- First: Get up to speed fast on the California election with CalMatters‘ guide for the undecided
In California’s June 2 primary, you can vote for any candidate from any party. The top two candidates move on to the November election, when voters choose the winner.
The governor’s race is wild. With six Democrats and two Republicans leading the primary race, it’s a packed field. (Gavin Newsom is term-limited, so he can’t be governor again.)
- Governor of California – All about the candidates
- Take our interactive quiz to see which candidates match your views.
- Watch our candidate interviews to hear their stances on key issues.
Statewide offices to watch
- Lieutenant Governor
- Attorney General
- Insurance Commissioner
- Secretary of State
- Controller
- Superintendent of Public Instruction
- Treasurer
- Board of Equalization
All 80 California Assembly seats are up for reelection, as well as 20 Senate seats (those from even-numbered districts). CalMatters is watching these key Assembly and Senate races.
