LOS ANGELES — You’ve read the mailers, tuned into the debates and done your research. Now it’s time for Californians to cast a ballot in the Nov. 8 General Election, when registered voters get to decide who will serve in office and whether to approve various ballot initiatives. Here’s what you need to know.

When is the General Election?

Election Day is Nov. 8.

When can I vote?

In Los Angeles County, in-person voting is done through Vote Centers. Early in-person voting runs Oct. 29 through Nov. 7 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily. On Election Day, Vote Centers will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Starting Oct. 6, the LA County Registrar-Recorder will mail all registered voters a vote-by-mail ballot that can be returned at one of 400 ballot drop boxes, by mail or by dropping it off at a Vote Center.

Where can I find a Vote Center or ballot drop box?

Vote Center and ballot drop box locations can be found on LAVote.gov. Voters can also find a polling place by texting “vote” to “GoVote” or 468-683.

What is on the ballot?

The General Election ballot will include LA city and County candidates for various offices, as well as local ballot measures. It also includes statewide candidates for U.S. Senate, Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, Controller, Treasurer, Attorney General, Insurance Commissioner, Member of State Board of Equalization and State Superintendent of Public Instruction; U.S. Representative for Congress, State Senator and State Assembly Member; and Supreme Court Justices.

In addition to individual offices, there are seven statewide ballot initiatives:

Proposition 1 would safeguard a woman’s right to abortion and access to contraception.

Proposition 26 would legalize sports gambling in person at tribal casinos and designated horse tracks.

Proposition 27 would allow betting on sports and other competitions online through certified gaming tribes and established online betting venues.

Proposition 28 would require the state to use a portion of its revenue for arts and music education.

Proposition 29 would impose new restrictions on dialysis clinics.

Proposition 30 would impose a new 1.75% tax on individuals who earn more than $2 million annually to fund initiatives designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Proposition 31 would keep the law Gov. Gavin Newsom signed in 2020 that banned the sale of all flavored tobacco products.

There are two countywide measures:

Measure A is a charter amendment that would allow the county to remove an elected sheriff for cause.

Measure C is a general tax on cannabis business in unincorporated county areas.

There are two citywide propositions:

Proposition LH would authorize public entities in the city of Los Angeles to develop, construct or acquire an additional 5,000 units of low-income rental housing in each Council District for a total of 75,000 additional authorized units of low-income housing. 

Proposition SP would authorize a new parcel tax of 8.4 cents per square foot to fund the rehabilitation, remediation, improvement, development, addition, acquisition and operations and maintenance of open spaces and recreational venues and programs in the city.

Initiative Ordinance ULA would impose a 4% tax on real property sales or transfers valued at more than $5 million but less than $10 million and use at least 92% of the revenue for affordable housing and tenant assistance programs.

How can I make sure my ballot is counted?

For it to be counted, vote-by-mail ballots must be postmarked by Election Day. No postage is required. Voters have to sign the eligibility oath and date the vote-by-mail return envelope before submitting the ballot. The registrar verifies every signature before the ballot is cleared for counting. If the signature does not match the one on file, the county will notify the voter to provide a valid signature. Ballots can also be returned at a ballot drop box or Vote Center following the same protocol.

How can I track my ballot?

Voters can subscribe to the state’s Where’s My Ballot service to receive text messages, emails or automated voice messages about their vote-by-mail ballot  The free service is available to all registered voters and provides updates on when a ballot is mailed, received and counted.

Who is eligible to vote?

Anyone who is a U.S. citizen living in California who is at least 18 years old and registered where you currently live has the right to vote, as long as that person is not currently serving a state or federal prison term for the conviction of a felony and is not currently found mentally incompetent to vote by a court.

What’s the deadline to register to vote?

In California, the deadline to register to vote for any election is 15 days before election day. To vote in next month’s General Election, a voter registration must be postmarked or submitted to the Secretary of State electronically no later than Oct. 24.

Where can I register to vote if I haven’t already?

Californians can register to vote online at the Secretary of State website or through LAvote.gov. They can also register by mail by printing a voter registration form, filling it out and mailing it to the LA Registrar-Recorder.

I’m registered, but my information is not current. How do I update it?

There are multiple places to update your voter registration. You can do it online at LAVote.gov. You can also update it at the U.S. Post Office, city clerk offices, Department of Motor Vehicles offices, libraries or the LA Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk.

I don’t speak English. Can I still vote?

Yes. The LA County Registrar-Recorder offers ballots and election material in 18 languages. To request materials in a language other than English, voters can call (800) 815-2666, ext. 3, or fill out a language request form in the official sample ballot that the LA County Registrar-Recorder mailed to them in October.

Where can I get more information?

LAVote.gov has all the details. You can also follow the Registrar-Recorder on social media @LACountyRRCC.