Thousands of Southern California residents are still recovering from the January wildfires, which destroyed homes and displaced many families. Among the challenges they face is ensuring their ability to vote in upcoming elections, including the November 4 special election on redistricting, the 2026 midterms, the Los Angeles mayoral race, and the California gubernatorial election. Los Angeles County Registrar Dean Logan has issued guidance for those affected by the Palisades and Eaton fires on how to receive their vote-by-mail ballots.
According to Logan, ballots are not automatically forwarded to new addresses because they are tied to the voter’s registered address. This has raised concerns among displaced residents like Diana Lee and Angel Perez from Altadena, who worry about missing out on voting due to undeliverable mailboxes and lack of information about the issues at hand.
To receive a vote-by-mail ballot, displaced residents should keep their home address the same and add a temporary mailing address. This can be done by re-registering online at lavote.gov or registertovote.ca.gov, and checking the box that indicates a different mailing address. Residents can also call the voter information hotline at (800) 815-2666 for assistance.
For those who have permanently relocated following the fires, it is important to update their home address to ensure eligibility to vote in local elections tied to their new address. Additionally, vote centers throughout the county will be available for an 11-day voting period, providing a fail-safe option for those who do not receive their ballots by mail.
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