Every two years, as far back as anyone can remember, sample ballots for the Culver City general municipal election are mailed from City Hall in the middle of March.
Regular as clockwork in the even-numbered years, yet many voters are caught off guard.
“We thought the election was in November,” they say. “Who are all these people running for City Council? Why do we have this election in April?” The short answer is, it is in the Culver City Charter (Section 1500).
Faithful readers probably know the answers to these questions, but the League of Women Voters is hoping they will tell their friends and neighbors about the April 12 election and the League’s candidate forum.
It will be Wednesday, March 16, from 7 o’clock to 9 in Council Chambers at City Hall.
You can witness the forum in person (free parking in City Hall’s underground facility) or watch it on the city channel (Time Warner channel 35, Verizon channel 37).
Besides being broadcast live, the video will be rebroadcast numerous times in the weeks before the election and will probably also be available online.
Whether you attend the League’s forum live or watch the video, it is important to do so before voting by mail. Your sample ballot will include a vote-by-mail ballot if you have signed up for permanent vote-by-mail status.
Otherwise, it will include detailed instructions about how to vote by mail. April 5 is the deadline to request a vote-by-mail ballot. For permanent status, see http://www.lavote.net.
There is no particular advantage for voting before the vote-by-mail deadline.
Some voters have learned this the hard way. They have tried to take their ballot back (once a vote-by-mail ballot is marked and mailed or dropped off, it cannot be taken back).
The League of Women Voters’ mission is to promote informed and active participation in government. This mean providing voters with the opportunity to take time for careful decision-making in a civil, non-confrontational atmosphere.
The League of Women Voters never supports or opposes candidates for any office.
For more information, and to suggest issues for discussion at the forum, leave a message at 323.743.3165 (Google Voice).
Ms. Talbott-White may be contacted at talbwhite@gmail.com
