Recruitment and selection of Vote Centers for the Presidential General Election is underway. A list of locations will be made available 30 days before Election Day at www.lavote.net. Voting Centers will be following State and County public health guidelines to ensure a safe voting experience. Ballots can be cast at any voting center as early as 10 days before Election Day to avoid long lines.
It is advisable to make a plan to cast a vote.
Vote by Mail ballots will be sent out to all registered voters beginning October 5th. Make sure to complete and return the ballot early, either by mail or by dropping it off at one of 400 secure ballot drop boxes located throughout LA County. Mobile voting centers will also be available at historic landmarks, parks, etc. around LA County and drive-by voting centers have been set up, as well.
Prospective voters can still register online or by mail before Oct. 19. In order to register, they must be a U.S. Citizen and at least 18 years of age. A California driver’s license or identification card, the last four digits of the social security number, and a date of birth are needed.
Subscribe to Where’s My Ballot at https://california.ballottrax.net/ to keep track of the ballot—when it’s been mailed out, delivery dates, and when it’s been counted. Ballots must be postmarked on or before Election Day in order for them to count.
Formerly incarcerated LA residents and others impacted by the justice system can still vote. A Voter Registration Hotline at (323) 401-0579 is open weekdays from 12:30 to 5:30 p.m. Anyone impacted by the justice system can call to receive support from another trained, system-impacted individual.
Additionally, Free the Vote partner, social services agency LA Voice, will host an online Ballot Drop Party October 7 from 5 to 6:30 p.m.
County staff and contracted partners from the Public Defenders’ and Alternate Public Defender’s Office; the Probation Department; LASD; L.A. County Dept. of Workforce Development Aging and Community Services; and Dept. of Health Services will all be informing clients about their eligibility and encouraging them to register during regular service calls and activities.
“Many people with a felony on their records or in county jail are unaware of their rights, and supporting the people we serve in exercising their right to vote is an important part of Los Angeles County’s commitment to equity,” said Peter Espinoza, director of the LA County Office of Diversion and Reentry (ODR). “Civic engagement is a core component of reentry services. People who vote have reported better health and decreased rates of recidivism. And the people we serve are disproportionately people of color who have historically experienced barriers to voting.”
Over 35,000 individuals in Los Angeles county are on felony probation or Post-Release Community Supervision. Hundreds of thousands more are on informal probation or in jail for misdemeanors or failing to pay bail. All are eligible to vote this November.
