LA Mayor, Council, and School Board Election to Share March Ballot with Sales Tax Measure

LOS ANGELES, CA -- The city's upcoming March 7 primary election will be consolidated into the Los Angeles County election, City Clerk Holly L. Wolcott announced Monday

The County Board of Supervisors approved a measure on Dec. 6 that called for a countywide election in order to place a county measure before voters asking for a quarter-cent sales-tax increase to fund the fight against homelessness.

The consolidation means that the county will perform poll worker recruitment, polling place recruitment, election day operations, ballot recovery, and vote tallying for the city.

"The benefits of a consolidated election are clear. They improve voter clarity, avoid duplication of services, reduce voter fatigue, and serve to ensure a countywide awareness of the election which facilitates and encourages voter participation," wrote Supervisor Mark Ridley Thomas in the motion creating the consolidated election.

Among the offices on the ballot for the the city's portion of the election are Los Angeles mayor, city controller, odd-numbered City Council districts and several school board seats.

The Secretary of State's Office will hold the public drawing to determine the order that the candidates' names will appear on the March ballot. The city will hold its own random alphabet drawing in February to determine the order for the May 16 general election, should a runoff be required.

City News Service; Photo: Shutterstock