Recently (January 14), Black Women for Wellness conducted a community meeting to discuss the new Vote Centers that will be implemented in L.A. County in 2020. The primary goal of the meeting was to get suggestions and comments from members of the community as to where the Vote Centers should be placed.
The Los Angeles County Registrar Recorder/County Clerk partnered with multiple community organizations to hold grassroots meetings across L.A. County to educate and prepare the public about the transition from polling places to vote centers. The meeting included a brief discussion from Laura Herrera, program assistant for Voting Solutions for All People, a powerpoint presentation facilitated by Black Women for Wellness as well as an “Open House,” a chance for attendees to submit their suggestions and comments on the vote centers.
“These meetings are a great start to what is going to be a big change for so many voters,” said Gloria Coulanges, Communications and Marketing Manager at Black Women for Wellness and meeting facilitator. “The Voter Center Placement Project allows for members of the community to offer suggestions as to where Vote Centers should be placed whether that be near home, work, place of worship, etc. We want people to think outside of the box as to where these centers should be placed—as long as they meet the requirements stated in the Voters Choice Act.”
In 2016, California passed the Voters Choice Act which will “modernize elections in the state by allowing counties to conduct elections under a new model which provides greater flexibility and convenience for voters,” according to the California Secretary of State website. Some of the requirements for the Vote Centers are ADA Accessibility, proximity to geographically isolated populations, low income communities, minority communities and public transportation.
The new voting model will allow Vote Centers to be open for up to ten days before an election and allows L.A. County residents to vote at any Vote Center within the county. Same-day voter registration will be available at all Vote Centers and Vote by Mail Drop Box locations will be available for 29 days prior to election day.
“Vote centers are a critical component of the new modernized voting experience coming to L.A. County,” said Brenda Duran, Communications Manager for the Registrar’s office. “This new experience will ensure voters of many languages and with various disabilities are able to exercise their democratic right in the most convenient and accessible manner.”
For more information on the Vote Center Placement Project please visit http://vsap.lavote.net
To suggest a vote center visit http://www.placeworkscivic.com/project/lacovcpp
