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2023 Neighborhood Council Elections

The 2023 Neighborhood Council elections are taking place now through June 22, 2023. The Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council (SONC) has a slate of 21 candidates who have filed to run for the 9 council seat races across areas 2, 4, and 6 that will be on the ballot. Please refer to the Area boundary map on this website and the area boundary descriptions that appear below to determine if you live in an area of Sherman Oaks that will have open seats on the 2023 ballot. As a stakeholder associated with any of these areas, you are eligible to vote in the 2023 elections. The Office of the City Clerk administers Neighborhood Council elections. If you already have a valid mailing address on file with the City Clerk's office, and that address is located in area 2, 4, or 6, you will automatically be receiving a letter from the City of LA that includes the paper form needed to request a ballot for voting by mail. You also have the option to vote in-person on election day.

The 9 seats in contention are:

Area 2 Residential

Area 2 Business

Area 2 Community Interest

Area 4 Residential

Area 4 Business

Area 4 Community Interest

Area 6 Residential

Area 6 Business

Area 6 Community Interest

Area Boundaries For Upcoming 2023 SONC Election Races

SONC Area 2 is located within the 91401 and 91423 zip codes and is bounded by:

Burbank Boulevard on the north
101 Freeway on the south
Woodman Avenue on the east
Van Nuys Boulevard on the west

SONC Area 4 is located within the 91403 and a small portion of the 91423 zip codes and is bounded by:

101 Freeway on the north
Ventura Boulevard on the south
Hazeltine Avenue on the east
405 Freeway on the west

SONC Area 6 is located within the 91403 and a small portion of the 91423 zip codes and is bounded by:

Ventura Boulevard on the north
Mulholland Drive on the south
Beverly Glen on the east
405 Freeway on the west

What Is A Neighborhood Council?

The purpose of neighborhood councils is to promote public participation in City governance and the decision-making process so that government is more responsive to local needs and requests. Neighborhood Councils will advise the Mayor of LA, City Council and City Departments on the City budget and will give local residents greater say over the decisions that affect our lives.

The Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council is an official government entity of the City of Los Angeles and the community's gateway to Los Angeles City Council. Board members are elected officials who volunteer to serve their community. The elected Sherman Oaks Board members serve four-year terms of office. The current term period will begin on July 1, 2023 and run to June 30, 2027.

Who Is Eligible To Run?

Eligible candidates can be residents, business owners, property owners, or community interest advocates who are key participants in local non-profit/service organizations. Candidates need not be US citizens or legal residents to qualify. Participation is also open to the formerly incarcerated. The minimum age to run for a council seat is 18.

Important SONC Election Dates

February 22, 2023 - Candidate Filing Begins
April 8, 2023 - Candidate Filing Period Ends
April 23, 2023 - Certified Candidate List Released
April 23, 2023 - Vote-By-Mail Application Period Begins
May 18, 2023 - Vote-By-Mail Ballot Mailouts Begin
June 3, 2023 - City Clerk Deadline for receiving Vote-By-Mail Ballot applications
June 12, 2023 - Candidate forum
June 22, 2023 - Election Day

Ballots And Voting Model

In 2023, the City Clerk will be using a hybrid election model for Neighborhood Council elections that provides for both in-person polling place voting as well as the option to Vote-By-Mail. The minimum voting age is 16. Voters can only cast their ballots for candidates that are running in their respective area of Sherman Oaks. This means that only eligible certified voters associated with Areas 2, 4 and 6 will be voting in the 2023 election for candidates running for open positions in those areas. Participation to vote is open to those who live, work, or own property or a business within a specific area. The certification process to receive a ballot will require voters to attest to qualification via written documentation (California driver's license or ID, property tax statement, paycheck, City of LA issued business license, etc.). Ballots will be available in 13 different languages.

Viewing The List Of Candidates

The Official List of Certified Candidates has been posted on the City Clerk's website. 21 candidates have been certified by the L.A. City Clerk's Office. To view the certification list, follow this link or open the embedded document at the bottom of this page. The candidate bio's and candidate statements are also published on-line. To view candidate information for the 21 certified stakeholders visit the Candidate Statements page on the City Clerk's website.

Meeting the Candidates

At the June 12th, 2023 Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council monthly Board meeting, a candidate forum will be conducted. All Sherman Oaks stakeholders are invited to attend the meeting in-person, or to view and access the meeting remotely via the Zoom video-teleconferencing platform. You will hear the 21 candidates speak about themselves and answer questions from the currently serving elected SONC Board members. The SONC Board meetings are conducted in the library at the Louis Armstrong Middle School, (formerly Millikan Middle School), 5041 Sunnyslope Avenue, Sherman Oaks, CA 91423. Meetings begin at 6:30 PM.

Voting Deadline

The voting deadline for SONC elections will be Thursday, June 22, 2023, with official results released on July 6, 2023. Newly elected council members will be officially sworn in and seated at the July 10th, 2023 SONC board meeting.

Voting By Mail - How To Obtain A Ballot

Sherman Oaks stakeholders can submit a Vote-By-Mail(VBM) Application now to obtain a ballot using the online VBM Application Portal or by completing a VBM paper application to request a NC ballot.

Applications to obtain a ballot are reviewed to ensure stakeholders meet the NC voter requirements, and once approved, ballots are mailed to the voters. Voted/completed filled-in ballots can be returned by mail using the postage-paid envelope provided or dropped off at the polling place on Election Day. The deadline to submit an application to vote-by-mail is June 3, 2023 (19 days prior to the election). Completed NC ballots must be postmarked by Election Day June 22, 2023 and received by the City Clerk's office no later than July 2, 2023 (10 days after election day).

Like with the candidate filing application, you will need to create an Angeleno Account prior to submitting an online VBM application. If you are requesting a Vote-By-Mail ballot using the downloadable paper application form, you do not need to create an Angeleno Account.

Voting Information/Resources

In-person Polling Location

The in-person polling location for the 2023 Sherman Oaks NC Election will take place at the Sherman Oaks East Valley Adult Center (SOEVAC), 5056 Van Nuys Blvd., Sherman Oaks, CA 91403, in Building C, Back Division. Voting hours will be 2:00 PM to 8:00 PM.

In accordance with any current City policy, proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test within the previous 72 hours may be required to enter a polling location. Any voter who cannot provide the required COVID-19 documents will be able to vote curbside or in front of the poll location. COVID-19 requirements are subject to change based on City policy.

Learn more about the 2023 Neighborhood Council Elections at: empowerla.org/elections