Frequently Asked Questions - City Clerk
How Do I Find Out About An Upcoming Election?
Elections are held in odd-numbered years on the first Tuesday in March. The next City election will be March 2011. You may also get election information, including information on where to vote an election results, by contacting the County of Los Angeles Register-Recorder's Office at 800-481-8683 or visiting their website at www.lavote.net.
When am I eligible to vote?
You are eligible to vote if you are a United States citizen, eighteen (18) years of age or older on or before the date of the election, and a resident of California for twenty-nine (29) days by the day of the election. For more information, call the County Registrar of Voters at 800-481-8683.
How do I register to vote?
Obtain a registration form from any City Clerk's office, Post Office, Library, Fire Department, League of Woman Voters, or Deputy Registrar of Voters; complete the form, sign it, and mail it to the County Registrar of Voters at 12400 Imperial Highway, Norwalk, CA 90650. The Registrar will send you verification of your registration. For more information, call the County Registrar of Voters at 800-481-8683.
When do I need to re-register?
If you have changed your residence since you last registered, you have changed your name since you last registered, or you wish to change your party affiliation.
How do I find out my polling place for an election?
Call the City Clerk's office at 323-563-9510 orby visiting the County of Los Angeles Register-Recorder's Office website at www.lavote.net.
How do I obtain an absentee ballot?
Any voter may apply for an absentee ballot up to seven (7) days before the election. No special reason is required. The application form is attached to your sample ballot, or you may write to the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk Absentee Voter Section at PO Box 30450, Los Angeles, CA 90030-0450. An absentee ballot must either be mailed in time to reach the Registrar of Voters by Election Day, or be delivered in person to the polls on Election Day. For more information, call 562-466-1323.
How do I obtain a birth/death certificate, marriage license or divorce papers?
These items can be obtained from Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder's office located at 12400 Imperial Highway Norwalk, or call 562-462-2137.
How do I obtain a passport?
Passports can be obtained from the Wright Road Post Office Branch, 10120 Wright Road, South Gate: 323-566-315.
What kinds of City records are available to me and may I obtain copies of the documents?
According to the "Public Records Act," the public may have access to a variety of documents held in the City Clerk's office. Upon written request, the Clerk has 10 days in which to respond to your request and acknowledge the existence of the requested documents. There may be a fee to copy various documents. For more information on how to obtain records, call the City Clerk's office at 323-563-9510.
How Do I Apply For A City Commission?
Applications are available from the City Clerk's office when positions are open.If you would like to be considered for a position return your application to the City Clerk's Office. All applications will be kept on file for one year.
How Do I File A Claim Against The City?
Claims are filed in the City Clerk's office and then forwarded to the Risk Manager's Office for processing. Per South Gate Resolution #7373 the City Clerk's Office will charge a $27.00 filing fee for claims against the City.