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Voters Head To The Polls To Decide On LA City Council Seats, Fracking

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — Los Angeles voters headed to the polls Tuesday to decide from among 30 candidates vying for City Council seats and other races, including whether to support a proposed oil-drilling project in the city.

Polls opened at 7 a.m. across the city ahead of an expected lower-than-average turnout for the City Council races, which feature two open seats up for grabs and one contest featuring a showdown between two Eastside political veterans.

Former Los Angeles County Supervisor Gloria Molina is among four challengers attempting to unseat 14th District City Councilman Jose Huizar, who is seeking a third and final term representing the district that stretches from Boyle Heights to downtown Los Angeles.

The controversial issue of fracking will also take center stage as voters in Hermosa Beach and La Habra Heights will consider restrictions on fracking and whether to ban the drilling of new wells.

Voters in Los Angeles will also weigh in on whether city and school board officials should be elected in the same year as the president and governor, instead of during local elections in off-years.

Under Charter Amendments 1 and 2, the city would hold school board elections in even-numbered years as opposed to odd-numbered years.

Opponents of the measure warn that lumping city elections together with a lengthy state and national ballot could lower voter engagement on local issues.

Click here to find your local polling place.

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