By Mary O’KEEFE

The primaries are quickly approaching. June 7 is Election Day but there are important dates to remember prior to that.

Some residents may have already received the State Voter Information Guide; if you haven’t received it yet it is coming. Vote-by-mail ballots will be sent out beginning on May 9. Every registered voter will be mailed a vote-by-mail ballot; however, residents who do not receive a vote-by-mail ballot can apply in writing for a late vote-by-mail ballot.

Between May 9 and June 7: Between these dates, anyone may request a vote-by-mail ballot. The voter may designate an authorized representative to pick up and return the ballot, according to the Los Angeles County Registrar’s Office.

The official sample ballot booklets will be mailed out on May 17. The last day to transfer or register to vote in the June 7 primary is May 23, unless the person registering is a new citizen.

Between May 24 and June 7: “A new citizen is eligible to register and vote at the office of, or at another location designated by, the county elections official at any time beginning on the 14th day before an election and ending at the close of polls on the election day following the date on which that person became a citizen,” according to LA County Registrar’s Office.
Voting centers will open on May 28.

Election Day is June 7. Vote-by-mail ballots that are mailed must be postmarked on or before Election Day and received by the county election officials’ office no later than seven days after Election Day. June 7 is the last day that a mail-in ballot can be turned in personally by the voter to the election officials’ office or to any polling place in LA County. According to LA County registrar-recorder/county clerk, vote-by-mail ballot drop boxes are available to voters beginning 29 days before and on Election Day. Drop boxes close at 8 p.m. on Election Day. Ballots are picked up regularly by two election workers.

Redistricting has been a bit confusing as representatives for some areas have changed while representatives for other areas remain the same. A voter can find out what district their address is in by visiting https://lavote.gov/apps/precinctsmaps.