A Guide to Election Day

Today is election day! Are you among the 37% of voters who have already turned in their ballots, or is your ballot still on your dining room table?

Today is the deadline to mail in your ballot, drop it off at a dropbox, or vote in person at a Vote Center.

You must submit your ballot by 8 pm tonight!

Additionally, alerts have been sent out regarding possible demonstrations. Be safe, as the demonstrations that can cause the most harm are the ones not announced in advance.

Ensure you are checked in with your property team security if you stay after hours today.

Logistics of Voting

California has made voting easy, so there is no excuse not to do your civic duty. And we need voters who know our industry to participate in the process.

All eligible voters receive a mail-in ballot. If you have not received your ballot, it's too late to request one. You will need to go to a vote center to cast your ballot.

You can return your completed ballot to a drop box, USPS, or a vote center by 8pm on Tuesday, November 5th.

Your vote will be counted if the ballot is received by this time.

Ballots will continue to be counted after election day as they are received and processed.

Also, California allows same-day voter registration if you missed the voter registration deadline. You must go to a vote center to do so, and your ballot is provisional until your qualifications are confirmed.

For more information on ballot locations and how to vote, visit the LA County Registrar of Voters website.

When Will the Results Be Known?

The first release of results will happen shortly after polls close at 8 pm on election day.

These are early ballots that have already been counted going into election night. You can track results on the county website.

It's important to note that LA County only tracks votes cast by LA County voters.

This note matters because some races cross county lines or are statewide initiatives. To see the complete picture of results for these races, you must visit the Secretary of State's website.

It will take time to count all of the ballots. Some races are decided by Wednesday, but close races may take a few weeks.

Federal and State Races

We do not directly endorse or make PAC contributions to federal officeholders, and we will not list all of the congressional races on your ballot in LA County.

However, we will provide this analysis from BOMA International about how each party offers opportunities and challenges to commercial real estate nationally if they take control.

BOMA California has released a helpful guide to the California statewide propositions here, highlighting the impacts some of the propositions will have on our industry.

There are no statewide officers up for election this year. Those races will be on your ballot in 2026, including for Governor.

LA Countywide

The county elective offices have all been decided except for the LA County District Attorney. Nathan Hochman is pushing to unseat incumbent District Attorney George Gascon.

Nathan Hochman is leading by significant margins in polling. He is expected to win, but only if people continue to turn out to vote for him.

Much of what is on the countywide portion of the ballot are various measures to consider.

• LA County Measure A - Homelessness Services and Affordable Housing Ordinance 
  • Proposes replacing Measure H with a 1/2 cent sales tax to fund affordable housing, homelessness prevention, and support services. 
  • Impact on members: The measure could increase housing support services and funding, potentially reducing the number of unhoused individuals near your properties and helping maintain community safety. However, there is a concern that there is no sunset clause like Measure H's. Additionally, the measure does increase the current Measure H sales tax. Should this measure fail, there is one more election to consider a replacement tax for Measure H before its sunset clause takes effect.
• LA County Measure E - Fire Parcel Tax 
  • This measure would levy a 6 cent per square foot tax on certain parcel improvements to fund fire department upgrades.  
  • Impact on members: A 500,000 sq ft property could mean an additional $30,000 in annual property taxes. The measure only impacts areas served by the LA County Fire Department (not the City of LA).
• LA County Measure G - Board of Supervisors Reform 
  • This measure would expand the Board of Supervisors from 5 to 9 members and create an elected County Executive position.  
  • Impact on members: While aimed at improving governance, it raises concerns about increased costs and rushed implementation without sufficient stakeholder input. 

Local School Bonds

Many school districts have bonds on the ballot this election. School bonds must pass by 55% rather than a simple majority or 2/3rds majority.

Unlike statewide bonds, local bonds are paid back via property tax assessments. They typically have a formula to calculate the additional tax.

For LAUSD's Measure US, the fee is $25 per $100,000 assessed value (not market or Zillow value).

BOMA/GLA is generally skeptical of any program that is specifically paid back through property taxes alone.

But use your best judgment for your community. Some schools may need bond money to pay for necessary upgrades and have adequate taxpayer safeguards.

And quality schools generally have a net positive impact on property values.

City of Los Angeles

There are two remaining consequential city council races in the City of LA.

In Downtown LA, Council District 14 (CD 14) pits incumbent Kevin De Leon against challenger Ysabel Jurado.

The race has been filled with controversy, with Kevin De Leon being caught on tape with racist remarks two years ago and Ysabel Jurado making defamatory remarks about the police just a few weeks ago.

This race is expected to come down to the wire, with results taking a while to be finalized.

The other critical race in LA is in the Valley's CD 2 to replace the incumbent, Paul Krekorian, who has been termed out.

Assemblymember and former Krekorian Chief of Staff Adrin Nazarian is facing off against Jillian Borgos.

Adrian enjoys more endorsements from businesses and traditional institutions. He is considered to be the more moderate and knowledgeable candidate.

City ballots will also include several charter reform measures, including one that would create an independent redistricting commission to draw city council and school district lines. Read more about the measures here.  

The Regions

City council races in Glendale and Pasadena have already been decided, but Burbank has an interesting race that could see a new, more real estate-friendly majority on the council.

Two seats are up for election, with only one incumbent, Konstatine Anthony, seeking re-election. Judie Wilke and Chris Rizotti are both beneficiaries of realtors' and apartment associations' spending. Residential rent control has been a critical issue in Burbank.

Moving over to the Westside, Culver City and Santa Monica each also have significant elections on the ballot.

El Segundo has two seats up for election in the South Bay, with both incumbents seeking re-election.

Final Comments

When considering who to vote for from a real estate perspective, consider the issues we have faced recently. First, do you like the current state of your city? Then, supporting incumbents or those endorsed by incumbents may be the best path forward.

If change is in the air, consider what each candidate offers. Are their statements about taxes unclear? Do they talk about redirecting public safety funds away from police departments? Is their approach to homelessness just empty platitudes?

For ballot measures, both statewide and local, consider what the added costs would be to you and your business. And ask if it's worth it.

Just make sure you go out and vote on November 5th!

Stay connected with BOMA on the Frontline for election results and updates.