Registration forms may be obtained from the Compton City Clerk’s Office or you may telephone the City Clerk’s Office at (310) 605-5530 or the County Registrar of Voters (800) 481-8683 to request a registration form by mail. You may also logon to the L.A. County’s website at www.lavote.net for more information.

You must be a United States Citizen, at least 18 years of age on or before Election Day, and not in prison or on parole for a felony conviction. You can register to vote as early as the age of 16, but will not be allowed to vote until 18 years of age.

Voter last name, first name, middle name, present address where you live (no PO Box or business address), mailing address if different from where you live, date of birth, place of birth, California Driver’s License No. or California ID Card No., last four digits of Social Security Number, telephone No., and political party affiliation. It is important to print this information clearly and pay attention to the order of the last name, first name, and middle name. You must also sign the registration form. This registration form cannot be processed if any information is missing or illegible.

The county Registrar of Voters must receive the registration form at least 15 days prior to Election Day, if you wish to vote in that particular election.

Voting by mail is available 29 days prior to the Election Day, until the week prior to the election. Voters must submit a Vote by Mail Application, providing their name, address, telephone number, and signature, and a ballot will be mailed to them. You may also contact the Registrar of Voters at www.lavote.net to become a permanent Vote by Mail voter. The voted ballot is then returned by the voter to the election official. Voters should only submit ONE Request for Absentee Ballot, as any attempt to vote more than once is illegal.

Voters should go to their specific polling place, according to their residential address. If you go to the wrong polling place, you will be directed to your correct polling place, as ballots may vary from one precinct to another (particularly in County and State Elections). Those voters who are unable to go to their correct polling place may be provided a provisional ballot only if they are able to produce valid identification with a current address and complete a voter’s declaration. Provisional ballots are not counted on Election Night, as the voter’s eligibility must be verified by the Election Official.

For your local elections, contact the City Clerk’s Office, 205 S. Willowbrook Avenue, Compton, California 90220 or call (310) 605-5530. For County and State Elections, contact the L.A. County Registrar at (800) 481-8683 or (800) 815-2666. You may also find answers to your questions on the City’s website or the county’s website at www.lavote.net.

The regular meeting schedule is the first and third Tuesdays of each month, at 3:30 p.m. and the second and fourth Tuesday of each month, at 5:45 p.m.

Yes, the public may address the City Councilmembers at the formal meetings. You will need to sign-in fifteen minutes prior to the commencement of the meeting. You will have the opportunity to speak up to 3 minutes on agenda and non-agenda items.

Requests for easily identifiable public documents may be made in person in the City Clerk’s Office and copies are made available at that time for a fee. However, more complex document requests must be submitted in writing. The City has 10 calendar days to respond and will advise the requestor, in writing, as to the availability of those records for inspection or photocopying.

Contact the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder County Clerk’s Office at (800) 201-8999 or (562) 462-2137.

Business license are issued in our business license department. You may contact them at (310) 605-5508 or visit the office at 205 S. Willowbrook Avenue, Compton, California 90220.

City elections are held the third Tuesday of April (Primary) and the first Tuesday of June (General) in the odd-numbered years. Each candidate must be at least 18 years of age, citizen of the United States, and a registered voter residing within the councilmatic district at the time nomination papers are issued. To run for Mayor, City Attorney (shall be an attorney at law duly licensed under the laws of the State of California and shall have been engaged in the practice of law for at least three (3) years prior to election), City Clerk, and City Treasurer you must live within City limits at the time nomination papers are issued.

Contact the City Clerk’s Office at (310) 605-5530 for assistance in locating your polling place. Please note that polling places frequently change from one election to another, so you may not always vote at the same location. You may also access the L.A. County Registrar website at www.lavote.net and enter your residence address to locate your polling place or call them at (800) 815-2666.

Jury Duty service is handled through the Los Angeles County Court system. You may contact the L.A. County Superior Court’s Juror Service Telephone Center at (800) 778-5879.

Please contact the City’s Planning Department at (310) 605-5532 or visit their office at 205 S. Willowbrook Avenue, Compton, California, 90220.

The city was incorporated on May 11, 1888.

Yes, the City councilmembers are elected by district and represent their district.

Compton is a Charter City.

The City councilmembers are non-partisan.

Claim forms are available from the Controller’s office if you wish to file a claim against the City of Compton. The claim form must be completed and returned to the Controller’s office either in person or by mail at 205 S. Willowbrook Avenue, Compton, California 90220.

The responsibilities of the City Clerk’s Office are to:

• Provide support to the Mayor and City Council
• Provide service to the community and City departments
• Plan, supervise and conduct all municipal elections
• Maintain the official minutes of all proceedings, records, ordinances, resolution, contracts and other official City documents and public records
• Provide the required public notices for meetings and public hearings
• Administer the City’s Records Program
• Codify and maintain the Compton Municipal Code
• Administer the City’s commission appointment/reappointment process
• Act as a filing officer for all reports under the State’s Political Reform Act
• Accept legal process against the City
• And respond to requests for public records.

California’s Public Records Act (“PRA”) is a California statute that affords the public the right to inspect, and be provided a copy of, most of the written information retained by State and local agencies in the course of business. The PRA regulates the public’s access to records and sets out the specific statutory circumstances under which particular records need not be disclosed. The PRA states that public records are open to inspection at all times during the office hours of a local agency.

Persons who request access to public records frequently reference the Freedom of Information Act (“FOIA”) as the basis for their request. The FOIA is a federal statute that does not apply to local government. However, the PRA was modeled after the FOIA.

The PRA applies to every conceivable local government entity. Under the PRA a “local agency” includes a county; city, whether general law or chartered; city and county; school district; municipal corporation; district; political subdivision; any board, commission or agency of any of these and non-profit organizations of local agencies which are supported solely by public funds.

The PRA defines “public records” as follows: “Public records’ includes any writing containing information relating to the conduct of the public’s business prepared, owned, used, or retained by any state or local agency regardless of physical form or characteristics… “A local agency is not required to create a document or compile a list in response to a request under the PRA.

The agency has 10 calendar days to determine whether to grant the request. In unusual circumstances, the agency may take up to an additional 14 calendar days to make the determination. If the agency intends to use this additional time to respond, the agency must provide written notification to the requestor that the additional time is required, the reason for the delay and the date on which a determination will be given. When the agency has made a determination, the requestor must be promptly notified of the agency’s determination. This notification should be in writing.

Requests for easily identifiable public documents may be made in person in the City Clerk’s Office or online at Public Records Requests. Copies are made available at that time for a fee. However, more complex document requests should be submitted in writing. The City Has 10 calendar days to respond and will advise the requestor, in writing, as to the availability of those records for inspection or photocopying.