City Clerk Provides Important Vote-By-Mail Dates

The following information is supplied by the Los Angeles Office of the City Clerk:

City Clerk June Lagmay would like to remind voters of important dates pertaining to the Vote-By-Mail (VBM) process for the March 2013 Primary Nominating Election to be held on March 5.

First and Last Day to Apply for a VBM ballot

Those who intend to vote in the March 2013 Primary Nominating Election may submit an application for a VBM ballot beginning Monday, Feb. 4.  All applications must be received by the Election Division no later than Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2013 at 5 p.m. Applications can be mailed to the Office of the City Clerk - Election Division, 555 Ramirez St., Space 300, Los Angeles, CA 90012 or faxed to the Election Division’s VBM Section at (213) 978-0611 or (213) 978-0612. 

California State law gives all registered voters the option to vote by mail regardless of whether or not they anticipate being “absent” on Election Day.  A voter who is not currently a permanent VBM voter must submit an application in order to receive a VBM ballot.

Applications for a VBM ballot can be found on the back cover of the Official Sample Ballot and Voter Information Pamphlet which is mailed to all registered voters.  Applications are also available on the Election Division website in English and the following languages: Chinese, Hindi, Japanese, Korean, Spanish, Tagalog, Thai, and Vietnamese.

Voters may receive a VBM ballot as early as Feb. 4 if they come in person to our Election Division office. The last day to apply for and vote a VBM ballot in person at the Election Division office is Monday, March 4.

Returning Voted VBM Ballots

Voted VBM ballots may be dropped off at any polling place by the close of polls (8:00 p.m.) on Election Day, March 5, or received in the Election Division Office by the close of polls (8:00 p.m.) on Election Day. A postmarked date is not considered valid. 

In-person Voting in Election Division Office

Voting in the Election Division office begins Monday, Feb. 4 and continues through Monday, March 4. 

VBM Envelope Verification, Ballot Inspection, and Tally

Starting on Feb. 5, the public is welcome to observe the VBM envelope verification process which will commence upon receipt of VBM ballots received on and after Feb. 5. Additionally, public inspection of VBM ballots (i.e., preparation for the tally) will begin on Wednesday, Feb. 27, from 8:30 a.m. to approximately 6 p.m. and will continue until 12 p.m. (noon) on Tuesday, March 5. The actual tally of VBM ballots will begin the afternoon of March 5, Election Day. The results of this tally will not be released until after the close of polls at 8:00 p.m. that evening.

All activities described will take place at:    

Piper Technical Center
555 Ramirez Street, Space 375
Los Angeles, CA 90012

For further information or assistance on the VBM process, please call the Election Division’s VBM Section at (213) 978-8050, Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.

The Office of the City Clerk - Election Division administers elections for the City of Los Angeles, the Los Angeles Unified School District, and the Los Angeles Community College District. The City’s Primary Nominating Election will be held March 5, 2013 and the General Municipal Election will be held May 21.

More information can be found on the Election Division’s website at: http://cityclerk.lacity.org/election/.