A local Republican women’s group received a preview Saturday of the new Los Angeles County voting system that is designed to make voting more convenient and accessible.
Jeff Klein, manager of Voter Education Outreach and Community Relations from the L.A. County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk, showed the new voting system to the Santa Clarita Republicans Women’s Federated and said the new system will drastically change the way people vote.
Voters will now have 11 days, leading up to election day, to turn in their ballots during an election.
Additionally, where people can vote will change. Voters will no longer have a pre-assigned polling designation. Instead, registered voters in the county will be able to cast their votes at any of the 1,000 locations, which will be opened during this 11-day period.
“This change is necessary and very overdue,” said Klein. “The outgoing voting system is about 50 years old. If you think about how much our phones and TV have changed in the last 20 years ago … it’s really time to change the system.”
The new equipment at the voting polls will provide accessibility to disabled voters who previously needed assistance while casting their ballots. The new system will provide visually impaired people with audio headsets and people who are wheelchair-bound ability to move screens as needed.
Vote by mail ballots will still be available for those who selected that option on their registration forms.
Klein said the county has been working on revamping the voting system for 10 years, and a mock election was held to give the new system a test run.
“It’s been a big change for L.A. County. Since we are the largest voter jurisdiction we have more voters in the county than 43 states have statewide,” said Klein. “So a dramatic change like this was a pretty huge task.”
Klein said that, since it is an election year, people with the L.A. County Civic Engagement, Community Relations and Legislation office have been working to spread awareness about the new system.
For more information about the new system visit the L.A. County voter website at https://vsap.lavote.net.
