Monday, June 1, 2026

Pasadena and Altadena Voters Head Into Final Day of Early Voting Ahead of Tuesday’s Primary

Today — Monday, June 1 — is the final day of early in-person voting before Election Day tomorrow, June 2. Here is everything Pasadena and Altadena voters need to know.

How You Can Vote Today

Los Angeles County voters in Pasadena and Altadena have three ways to cast or return their ballot:

• Vote in person at any Vote Center in LA County (not just in your neighborhood — any voter can use any county location)
• Drop off your completed mail-in ballot at any of the 400+ official 24-hour Ballot Drop Boxes countywide
• Mail your ballot — but it must be postmarked by Election Day, June 2, and received by June 9

Today’s hours for Vote Centers: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. On Election Day, June 2, all Vote Centers will be open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Ballot Drop Boxes close at 8 p.m. on Election Day.

Voters who missed the May 18 registration deadline can still register in person at any Vote Center through same-day Conditional Voter Registration.

Pasadena Vote Centers Open Today

Two 11-day Vote Centers in Pasadena have been open since May 23: Armenian Cilicia Evangelical Church (Derian Hall) at 339 S. Santa Anita Ave., and Morning Star Christian Church (Robinson Hall A-C) at 980 E. Rio Grande St.

Pasadena’s four-day Vote Centers, open since May 30, are:

• American Legion Post 280 (Post Hall) at 179 N. Vinedo Ave.,
• First United Methodist Church (Great Hall) at 500 E. Colorado Blvd.,
• Jefferson Branch Library (Auditorium) at 1500 E. Villa St.,
• Octavia E. Butler Middle School (Gymnasium) at 1505 N. Marengo Ave.,
• Pasadena City College (Creveling Lounge) at 1570 E. Colorado Blvd.,
• Red Hen Press (Literary Center) at 1540 Lincoln Ave.,
• Rosemont Pavilion (North Warehouse) at 700 Seco St.,
• Victory Park Recreation Center (Gymnasium) at 2575 Paloma St.,
• Villa Parke Community Center (Auditorium) at 363 E. Villa St.,
• Webster Elementary School (Auditorium) at 2101 E. Washington Blvd., and
• Westminster Presbyterian Church (Lawrence Chapel) at 1757 N. Lake Ave.

Real-time status, wait times, and the full countywide list are available at locator.lavote.gov.

Altadena Vote Centers

Altadena is an unincorporated community and receives election services directly from Los Angeles County. Two Vote Centers serve Altadena for the June 2 primary: Tekeyan Cultural Association (Hall) at 1901 N. Allen Ave., Altadena 91001, open since May 23 as an 11-day site, and Sacred Heart Catholic Church (Parish Hall) at 2889 Lincoln Ave., Altadena 91001, open since May 30 as a four-day site.

Both are open today from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and on Election Day from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Ballot Drop Boxes in Pasadena

Eight 24-hour Ballot Drop Boxes have been operating in Pasadena since May 4 and remain available through 8 p.m. on Election Day:

• Allendale Branch Library at 1130 S. Marengo Ave.,
• Grant Park at 232 S. Michigan Ave., Hastings Branch Library at 3325 E. Orange Grove Blvd.,
• Jackie Robinson Community Center at 1020 N. Fair Oaks Ave.,
• Pasadena City Hall at 100 N. Garfield Ave.,
• Rose Bowl Stadium near Lot I at Seco Street and
• Arroyo Boulevard, Victory Park at 2575 Paloma St., and Washington Park at 700 E. Washington Blvd.

Pasadena City Council Races on the Ballot

Three Pasadena City Council seats are up this year — Districts 3, 5, and 7. Only voters who reside in those districts will see the race on their ballots; Altadena voters, as residents of an unincorporated area, do not vote in Pasadena municipal contests.

A candidate who wins more than 50% of the vote in the June primary wins the seat outright; otherwise the top two finishers advance to a November runoff.

In District 3, Councilmember Justin L. Jones, an engineer, is being challenged by Erica Margarita Muñoz, a housing navigator. In District 5, Councilmember Jess Rivas, an attorney, has no challenger filed. In District 7,  although the printed ballots say incumbent Councilmember Jason Lyon, an attorney, is being challenged by Alethea O’Toole, a business owner and accountant, in fact O’Toole withdrew from the race but it was too late to remove her name.

Key issues the incoming council will face include balancing a city budget with a growing structural deficit, deciding how to use approximately 50 acres of land along the former 710 Freeway stub returned by Caltrans in 2022, appointing a new city manager to replace retiring Miguel Márquez, and negotiating new contracts with 11 union labor partners.

Measure ER on the Countywide Ballot

Every Los Angeles County voter — including those in the ciy of Pasadena — will see Measure ER, the Essential Services Restoration Act, on the ballot. The measure proposes a temporary half-cent (0.5%) general sales tax increase for five years, which the County projects would generate approximately $1 billion per year to support countywide healthcare and other essential services.

According to the LA County Chief Executive Office’s official fact sheet, Measure ER would raise the LA County sales tax rate from 9.75% to 10.25%, exempt groceries, prescription medications, and medical equipment, and automatically expire on October 1, 2031, with no extension possible without voter approval. The measure would also establish a nine-member advisory citizens’ oversight committee to review expenditures. Passage requires a simple majority.

Backers say it is necessary to keep safety-net hospitals, community clinics, and public health programs functioning. Critics argue it could hurt businesses and burden taxpayers.

Top Statewide Races

The most-watched race on the statewide ballot is the California governor’s primary, with 61 candidates competing for the top two spots to advance to the November general election. Incumbent Governor Gavin Newsom is term-limited and ineligible to run again.

The race has tightened into a three-way contest among Xavier Becerra (Democrat), former U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, polling at approximately 23% to 25%; Steve Hilton (Republican), a businessman, polling at approximately 20% to 21%; and Tom Steyer (Democrat), a Democratic activist and former hedge fund manager, polling at approximately 15% to 19%.

Republican Chad Bianco (Riverside County Sheriff) and Democrat Katie Porter (former U.S. Representative) are also in the mix but trailing. Analysts have noted the fragmented Democratic field could theoretically allow two Republicans to advance to the general election — what pundits have called a “lockout” scenario — though most sources as of May describe that outcome as unlikely.

The incoming governor will face a structural budget deficit projected to reach $35 billion in the coming years, ongoing conflicts with the Trump administration in Washington, and persistent challenges around housing costs, homelessness, and wildfire risk.

In the California Attorney General race, incumbent Democratic Attorney General Rob Bonta is seeking reelection and faces a challenge from Republican Michael Gates. The race is part of a broader set of competitive statewide contests.

California voters are also choosing candidates in the primary for Secretary of State and other statewide offices, all using the top-two primary system in which the top two finishers — regardless of party — advance to the November general election.

Key Contacts and Resources

Find a Vote Center or Drop Box: locator.lavote.gov or lavote.gov/DropBox.

LA County RR/CC Voter Hotline: (800) 815-2666.

Multilingual assistance: (800) 815-2666, option 3; Spanish: (213) 358-2770.

Pasadena City Clerk’s Office: (626) 744-4124 or cityclerk@cityofpasadena.net.

Track your ballot: california.ballottrax.net/voter.

Interactive Sample Ballot: lavote.gov/isb.