It’s election season for many neighborhood councils across the city.
But one thing is different this time around: All voting must be done by mail. If you want to vote in the Boyle Heights Neighborhood Council election, you must request a ballot by next week.
Why should I vote?
Neighborhood councils are advisory bodies in the city of L.A. with limited power but serve a key role in highlighting local problems and uplifting resident voices to the L.A. City Council.
In addition, neighborhood council boards receive annual budgets funded by taxpayer dollars, which can be used to address critical issues and support local organizations.
But not many residents are exercising their right to vote in these elections.
According to a report by LAist, Los Angeles neighborhood council elections this year are on track to see their lowest voter turnout in years. A review of results from the first round of voting shows a 37% drop from the last time elections were held in 2023, and 77% from those in 2021.
Some neighborhood council members told LAist they believe the decline is due to in-person voting being cut from the election administration budget this year.
During its last election in 2021, Boyle Heights saw only 84 votes, about half the 177 submitted in 2019, according to data by the L.A. City Clerk (the council did not have an election in 2023).
How can I request a ballot?
To receive a ballot to vote for Boyle Heights Neighborhood Council, you must be a stakeholder in the area. That means you live, work or own property in Boyle Heights.
Participants of some community organizations are also eligible to vote (see full guidelines here).
Boyle Heights stakeholders have until Monday, April 28, to request a vote-by-mail ballot from the City Clerk’s office online. After filing a request, you can expect to receive a ballot within a few days.
Ballots must be postmarked by Election Day, May 6, or dropped off by that date at a neighborhood council election drop box location. You can find your nearest drop box online.
Who’s running in Boyle Heights?
The following candidates are running for seats on the Boyle Heights Neighborhood Council. You can read more about them online on the City Clerk’s candidate portal.
- Area 1 Seat Candidates
- Chichi Navarro
- Ana Donayre Alvarez
- Area 2 Seat Candidate
- Alfredo “Chunks” Holguin
- Area 3 Seat Candidates
- Steven Lopez-Deler
- Israel Navarro
- Area 4 Seat Candidate
- Jazmin Ronquillo
- Community Seat
- Margarita Mago Amador
- Wendy Castro
- Elias Naranjo
- Sylvia Delgado
- Shmuel Gonzales
- Kathy Lopez
- Vivian M. Escalante
- Christian Mejía
- Jacqueline Lyon
- Andrew Marquez
- Adriana Howard
- Aracelly Cauich
- Tomasa Martinez
- Tania Ramon
- Community Interest Seat
- Irma Mejia
- Andrea Mendoza Aguila
- Youth Seat
- Ashley Lares
What other neighborhoods have elections this season?
Most of the city’s 99 neighborhood councils have elections every two years, with the exception of four in 2025 (see full list online). Boards with open elections in the area include the neighborhoods of Arroyo Seco, Eagle Rock, Glassell Park, Cypress Park, Hermon, Highland Park, LA-32 and Lincoln Heights.