On Sept. 14, Beverly Hills voters will be asked to participate in a statewide election process and cast ballots for the upcoming California Gubernatorial Recall. Like the last election, voters will have three specific ways to cast their ballots: vote by mail via UPS, in-person voting and by using a secure drop box–where voters can deposit their ballots to be collected later by election officials. However, because Beverly Hills does not have a specific ballot measure, in-person vote centers in the city are limited to two locations.
The recall ballot will have only two questions for voters. The first is a “yes” or “no” question, asking voters if Gavin Newsom should be recalled and removed from the office of Governor. The second question asks voters who answered “yes” to vote for a particular candidate whom they would like to have to replace Newsom as Governor.
There are 46 candidates listed on the ballot. If more than 50% of voters answer “yes” to the first question, which is the removal of Gavin Newsom as governor, then the candidate with the most votes for question two, which is the listing of candidates, will win. At its Aug. 17 Study Session, the City Council heard updates regarding how and when to vote in the upcoming election.
“This is an important election,” Mayor Robert Wunderlich said. “Multiple ways that we can vote. So, everybody, please vote.”
Vote Centers
The City of Beverly Hills will provide one 11-day vote center for the California Gubernatorial Recall Election at City Hall (455 N. Rexford Drive) in the Municipal Gallery on the second floor. The vote center will be open from Sept. 4 to Sept. 14, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day.
There will be a four-day vote center at the Beverly Hilton Hotel (9876 Wilshire Blvd.) in the Wilshire Ballroom, located near the main entrance of the hotel lobby. Voters can cast their ballots here starting Sept. 11 through 13, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and on Sept. 14, from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Both locations will offer free parking.
Vote by Mail Drop Boxes
Beginning Aug. 16 through Sept. 14, voters can return their ballots using one of two drop boxes located in the city. There are already two secure drop boxes in Beverly Hills, one in the civic center area of City Hall (455 N. Rexford Drive), next to Kelly’s Coffee and Fudge, and at the Roxbury Park Community Center (471 S. Roxbury Drive), near the front entrance of the park. While they are accessible 24 hours a day, both drop boxes will close at 8 p.m. on Election Day.
The boxes are made of stainless steel and secured to the ground, with protections against liquids and graffiti in place. The mail slot is small enough for only a ballot, and the capacity for each box is about 5000 ballots. The Los Angeles County Registrar Recorder/County Clerk’s office is responsible for the maintenance, management, and collection of ballots.
Vote by Mail
Vote by mail has already begun, with all registered voters in Los Angeles County having been sent a vote by mail ballot via UPS that can be filled out and mailed back, with postage already included. Those who are not registered with Los Angeles County can sign up to receive a vote by mail ballot by Aug. 30. To track your ballot, visit: https://california.ballottrax.net/voter/.
Voters opting to mail in their ballots can do so at one of three postal branches in the city: Crescent Postal Store (323 N. Crescent Drive), Beverly Station (312 S. Beverly Drive), and Beverly Hills Main Office (325 N. Maple Drive, Suite 150). They are all open on weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and the Beverly Hills Main Office includes Saturday hours from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Residents can also return their vote by mail ballot at one of the official drop box locations.
For more information, visit www.beverlyhills.org/elections.
