Key takeaways
- The last day to register online for California's June 2 primary election is May 18. If you are registering or re-registering less than 15 days before May 18, you must complete same-day voter registration and request your ballot in person at your county elections office or polling location.
- There are several ways to vote at UCLA. Members of the UCLA community can opt for in-person voting and vote-by-mail drop-offs.
- If you are eligible to vote in Los Angeles County and you did not register by the deadline, you can still register to vote and cast a provisional ballot at any Vote Center, including four at UCLA.
What is being decided in this election?
On June 2, California voters will decide the top two candidates, regardless of party, who will advance to the Nov. 3 general election to succeed Gov. Gavin Newsom, who has concluded his two-term limit. Among the main contenders are six Democrats and two Republicans, and in the primary, voters can vote for any candidate from any party.
All 80 California Assembly seats are up for reelection, as well as 20 Senate seats from even-numbered districts. Twelve state executive offices are up for election, including lieutenant governor, attorney general, secretary of state, controller, insurance commissioner and superintendent of public instruction.
Also on the ballot for Los Angeles residents is Measure ER, which is asking voters to temporarily raise Los Angeles County's general sales tax by a half-percent from 9.75% to 10.25% to offset hospital and clinic budgets amid federal cuts to Medi-Cal.
Residents of the city of Los Angeles will be voting for mayor, with the top two advancing to the November election. Incumbent Mayor Karen Bass is seeking a second four-year term, and is facing 13 additional candidates.
Preparing to vote: Making informed decisions
To better understand the choices on the ballot, helpful analysis can be found from several sources, including:
When, where and how to vote
In California, the deadline to register to vote for any election is 15 days before Election Day; the last day to register for this primary election is May 18. Voters still have the option of utilizing same-day, or conditional, voter registration, but will have to do so in person at their county elections office or at any in-person voting location.
If you are unsure about your registration, the California Secretary of State website allows residents to check if and where they are registered to vote, along with political party preference, language preference and the status of vote-by-mail or provisional ballots.
If you live on campus, make sure to check that you're using the correct address. Once you're registered, you can either vote by mail or find a voting center near you.
Vote by mail
California voters registered by the deadline will automatically receive a vote-by-mail ballot for each election, which can be dropped off at any of the following locations:
- At the USPS post office located at Ackerman Union, A-level (right in front of the elevators)
- The vote-by-mail dropbox at the Westwood Plaza parking and information kiosk, which will remain open until 8 p.m. on June 2.
- In a USPS Blue Box
- At an official Los Angeles County vote-by-mail drop box or early voting location.
Don't forget that ballots must be deposited on or before Election Day and postmarked by June 2. You can visit this website to track your vote-by-mail ballot and see that it was properly counted.
Voting in person
If you did not vote by mail or require same-day voter registration, you can find your polling place and vote in person by Election Day. Voters can find locations closer to home at the L.A. County Vote Centers website, which also includes estimated wait times.
Any voter registered in Los Angeles County can vote in person at one of the four Vote Centers at UCLA, located at:
Pauley Pavilion
Address: 301 Westwood Plaza, Los Angeles, CA 90095
Voting period: May 23–June 2
Vote Center hours: 10 a.m.–7 p.m.; June 2 (Election Day) hours: 7 a.m.–8 p.m.
UCLA De Neve Plaza
Address: 351 Charles E Young Drive West, Los Angeles, CA 90024
Voting period: May 30–June 2
Vote Center hours: 10 a.m.–7 p.m.; June 2 (Election Day) hours: 7 a.m.–8 p.m.
Hammer Museum
Address: 10899 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90024
Voting period: May 30–June 2
Vote Center hours: 10 a.m.–7 p.m.; June 2 (Election Day) hours: 7 a.m.–8 p.m.
Ackerman Union - Bruin Reception Room
Address: 308 Westwood Plaza, second floor, Los Angeles, CA 90024
Voting period: May 30–June 2
Vote Center hours: 10 a.m.–7 p.m.; June 2 (Election Day) hours: 7 a.m.–8 p.m.
