[dropcap size=big]I[/dropcap]t’s Election Day. Polls open at 7 am and stay open until 8 pm. To help you exercise your right as a citizen and participate in democracy, here are some helpful tools for you on Election Day. Remember, many people in Los Angeles do not have the same rights as eligible voters, so it's important for L.A. to go represent at the polls.
Where Do I Vote?
If you are not a hundred percent where to go, check out this polling place locator on the L.A. County Registrar Recorder’s website. All you need to do is enter your name, birthdate, address number (you don’t even need the street name), and zip code, and then like magic your polling place appears. It’s that simple. Remember, California by law requires employers to allow workers two hour of paid time to go vote.
How to Go Vote?
Now you need to get there, but you have no car. Don’t worry. All L.A. buses and trains are free on Tuesday, from 12:01 a.m. and 11:59 p.m. The Metro will also offer free 30-minute Metro bike-share rides. Enter promo code 1162018 at the station kiosk, and your first 30 minutes are free. It’s $1.75 for every additional 30 minutes after that.
If L.A.’s public transportation system isn’t for you, both major ride-sharing apps are offering discounts to passengers. Lyft will offer 50% off rides to the polls, while Uber is offering a $10 discount. They partnered with non-profit groups to bring you free or close-to-free rides.
Can You Still Register to Vote?
Maybe you feel left out of the Election Day brouhaha because you flaked and didn’t even register to vote by the official Oct. 22 deadline. Do not fret. It’s not too late. Same-Day Registration has been available in California for statewide races since January. The bad news is there is only one place to register on Election Day. You have to go to the county clerk’s office in Norwalk. That could be quite a trek for some L.A. County residents. You can at least cast you provisional ballot while you’re there. No ID is required to register on Election Day, but your ballot will remain provisional until your registration is certified.
This is how that works. Once L.A. County elections officials process your “affidavit of registration,” determine your eligibility to register, and validate your info, your registration becomes permanent and your provisional ballot is counted. No muss no fuss.
Do I Have to Vote at My Designated Polling Place?
If you checked lavote.com website and confirmed you’re registered, and you somehow get to your polling place only to discover your name is not on the rolls, everything will be okay. People have been casting provisional ballots in California since 1984.
It is usually only necessary when for some reason your name is not on the rolls or your name was put on the rolls at the wrong polling place. Just vote as you would normally, but then place your pink ”provisional ballot” and cast it as you ordinarily would.
Provisional ballots are counted after elections officials have confirmed the validity of the voter’s registration and that the voter did not already vote in the election. You can find a polling place anywhere in the city to register and vote provisionally here. Zoom in, it's very detailed:
Now, you are well equipped to get out the vote. Go show America what you think.
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