On the heels of a highly contested Democratic Presidential nomination spot, Los Angeles County voters will notice something new at the ballot box this coming election.
The new system allowing LA County voters to make their ballot choices started Feb. 22.
The modified Vote Centers will be open up to 11 days before election day–whereas before the polls were open only on election day on March 3.
The Los Angeles County registrar-recorder and city clerk, Dean Logan, oversees the voting operation.
“The March 3, 2020, Presidential Primary Election may be one of the largest and highly-viewed presidential primaries in the history of Los Angeles County,” Logan said.
The first 232 voting centers were opened Feb. 22 with the following 744 vote centers opening on Feb 29th said Logan in a Feb. 21 media release.
Azusa City Clerk Jeffrey Lawrence Cornejo, Jr. believes that the new system will change voting for the better.
“We look forward to the new voting system which will provide the public with a more convenient and accessible process in which to cast their vote and as a result, increase voter participation,” Cornejo said.
Eligible LA County residents can vote at any Vote Center across the country even if they’ve missed the registration deadline.
“The 10-day early vote centers in Claremont are up and running and receiving voters,” Claremont City Clerk Shelley Desautels said.
In addition to adding multiple locations of the LA County Voting Centers new changes are made to the voting methods as well.
New Ballot Marking Devices are being introduced across the county. The Ballot Marking Devices combine both paper and digital technology to create an easier and more secure voting process.
Voters make their selections on a touchscreen device and place their selections on a paper ballot for submission.
LA County continues to grow in population. The US Census Bureau estimates a population of 10.1 million people who live in the area. Of those 10.1 million, there are 5.4 million registered voters.
This current election has over 170 contests, 905 candidates and 48 local measures with two county measures and one state measure, all on the ballot.
Historically only about one-third of registered voters have turned out to vote in a primary election; that number is rising to about one-half in the general election.
LA County alone has a larger electorate than the 39 other states, the Los Angeles Times said.
Managing a huge electorate has been a daunting and challenging task–this election is sure to be no different.
