Vote By Mail Important Dates

LOS ANGELES (January 26, 2015) — City Clerk Holly L. Wolcott would like to remind voters of important dates pertaining to the Vote-By-Mail (VBM) process for the 2015 Primary Nominating Election to be held on March 3, 2015. 

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 for each election.

First and Last Day to Apply for a VBM Ballot

Those who intend to vote by mail in the 2015 Primary Nominating Election may submit an application for a VBM ballot beginning Monday, February 2, 2015.  All applications must be received by the Election Division no later than Tuesday, February 24, 2015 at 5:00 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 (213) 978-0611 or (213) 978-0612.  If you are a permanent VBM voter, you do not need to complete an application; you will receive a VBM ballot automatically. 

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

In-Person Voting in City Clerk Offices

Voters may also receive a VBM ballot in person at either of two City Clerk locations.  See below for locations, dates, and hours of operation.

Returning Voted VBM Ballots

Voters who choose to mail in their VBM ballot must do so early enough to ensure that it arrives in the Election Division office no later than by the close of polls (8:00 p.m.) on Election Day, March 3, 2015.  A postmarked date is not considered valid.  Voters who cannot mail their VBM ballots in time may drop off their ballot at any polling place or at the Election Division office by the close of polls on Election Day. 

VBM Envelope Verification, Ballot Inspection, and Tally

Starting on Wednesday, February 4, 2015, the public is welcome to observe the VBM envelope verification process which will commence upon receipt of VBM ballots.  Additionally, public inspection of VBM ballots (i.e., preparation for the tally) will tentatively begin on Friday, February 27, 2015 from 8:30 a.m. to approximately 6:00 p.m. and will continue until 12:00 p.m. (noon) on Tuesday, March 3, 2015.  The actual tally of VBM ballots will begin the afternoon of March 3, 2015, 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

If you are interested in observing any of these activities or require further information or assistance, please contact the Office of the City Clerk - Election Division between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, at (213) 978-0444 or toll-free at (888) 873-1000.

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 Municipal Elections will be held on March 3, 2015 and May 19, 2015. More information can be found on the City Clerk's website at: http://clerk.lacity.org/elections/.