Community groups and neighborhood councils are planning upcoming election forums to help inform voters prior to the Nov. 3 election.

The Mid City West Neighborhood Council’s Social and Racial Equity Committee is holding a virtual forum with 24th California Senate District candidates John Erickson and Brian Goldsmith on Tuesday, Sept. 22, at 2 p.m., via Zoom. The forum, moderated by Mid City West youth representative Sonya Turoff, will focus on hate crimes, hate speech and bias-motivated violence. Organizer Josh Rothstein said because the forum is being held by a neighborhood council, which is a government entity, it must be tied to a particular issue impacting the community, in this case hate crimes. The candidates will have an opportunity to present a general platform statement and will answer questions about how they will address hate crimes and hate incidents. Viewing is open to the public and advanced reservations are required. To register, visit us02web.zoom.us/j/81997717922.

The Larchmont United Neighborhood Association, Windsor Square Association and Hancock Park Homeowners Association are holding an election forum on Thursday, Sept. 24, from 6-8:30 p.m., via Zoom. Mayoral candidates Karen Bass and Nithya Raman will participate, as well as 26th State Senate District 26 candidates Sara Hernandez and Sarah Rascón, and City Attorney candidate John McKinney. City attorney candidate Marissa Roy was invited but declined to participate, Larchmont United Neighborhood Association president Sam Uretsky said.

Uretsky stressed the event is not a debate. Each candidate will appear separately for 30 minutes answering a series of questions about concerns in the community. The moderator has not yet been announced, he added.

“We hope and expect our neighborhood will learn something from this to help them make an informed decision in the election,” Uretsky added.

Viewing is open to the public and advanced reservations are required. To register, visit us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/9417886479928/WN_03PeZyorTsC2gtKq3x1hAw#/registration.