Yes, you finally received your ballot in the mail, but do you have to vote right away?
We say no. An informed voter does no harm, but a misinformed voter can easily misunderstand the issue at hand by reacting to television and flash ads designed to mislead and engage voters who would otherwise vote differently. Ignore ads and check your emotions at the door—you have approximately four weeks to mail, drop off, or hand in your vote-by-mail (VBM) ballot. Use that time to do your research. Information about candidates and ballot measures frequently comes two or three weeks before the election, in mid-May.
There are plenty of resources available to you with great information. We list some trustworthy, impartial ones here. Click on the links below and see what’s available now. The Registrar’s website and several of the others will have all the June Primary information after Cinco de Mayo.
Public/Government Resources
- California Secretary of State
- L.A. County Registrar of Voters
- Your public officials
- Certified list of candidates (U.S. & state)
- Candidate 10-year history of political party preference
Nonpartisan, Nonprofit Organizations
- League of Women Voters Pasadena Area (LWV-PA)
- LWV-PA Resource Toolbox (Voter Resources)
- LWV-PA Voting and Elections
- League of Women Voters California
- Cal Matters
- Ballotpedia
- Los Angeles County Bar Association (LACBA): The LACBA’s Judicial Elections Evaluation Committee rates judges as “qualified” or “not qualified” and may post new reports for the 2022 election, so watch this space!
—Martha Zavala
