At least this time— just like back at school— everyone gets a sticker!the one that says you participated in the democratic process.
Los Angeles Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk Dean Logan announced in a statement that his office will now be including the iconic “I voted” sticker in the vote-by-mail ballots.
“The most influential method of increasing voter participation is peer-to-peer outreach,” Logan said. “When people share the value and importance of voting with those in their personal and professional network, the likelihood their peers will vote goes up. The ‘I voted’ sticker serves as a symbolic statement that voting is a part of community.”
Logan’s office also announced on May 18 that there will also be a new “will call” program for voters to request a vote-by-mail ballot either by phone or online, and the ballot will be available for pick-up at “a location of their choice.”
“Voters can request will-call ballots starting on May 23 to be available beginning May 28 continuing through June 6,” according to the press release. The county clerk’s office further explained that there are 11 designated locations that will function as pick-up and drop-off locations.
Civic engagement has been a part of the DNA of north Long Beach advocate Dan Pressburg, who often schedules candidate brunches at the Long Beach Dairy and Creamery, a historic landmark in the city. These brunches allow an opportunity for residents to be introduced to candidates for office. He is thinking of planning another brunch around August.
Pressburg highlighted the importance of meeting candidates in person and engaging them on issues that directly concern the individual.
“That’s the whole democratic process right there. That’s [it] in a nutshell,” he said in a phone interview. “It’s asking the question on how it’s going to affect you, not just [at] the minute, but how it’s going to affect you overall.”
Next month’s election will also see other groups experimenting with ways to foster a new energy for the election process. Nonprofit organization City Fabrick recently announced it received a grant from the Knight Foundation for a program dubbed “Place-make the Vote.”
The organization’s executive director, Brian Ulaszewski, explained that they will be planning an event in a low-voter-turnout area on Election Day. Once they’ve finished voting, residents will be invited to what amounts to be a block party near a polling location. Location and details will be announced soon, but the organization’s director explained the event will feature food and possibly art displays and other entertainment. The party will likely be held in Long Beach’s 2nd District, since voters there will be choosing a new representative to the city council.
Ulaszewski described the party as being geographically tied to the precinct location, rather than making voters feel as though they are being pulled from other parts of the city. Next month’s party will test the waters, and they hope to determine what will work for another event in November.
“You are engaging people as they’re participating in the process, or hopefully bringing them into the process,” he said, “because they see and want to participate through this additional level of activity.”
He added that he hoped that this particular event could be replicated by neighborhood groups throughout the city and across the country to foster better voter participation in the area.
City Fabrick has sought the input of both the county clerk and city clerk’s office, since there are logistical issues that have to be worked out. There are strict regulations at polling places against electioneering.
Long Beach City Clerk Maria de la Luz Garcia was enthusiastic about the possibilities of getting people excited about participating in local elections. In a phone interview, she noted that the June event will be a trial run so that they can determine what kind of event will attract people to the polling place to hang out and talk to their neighbors about democracy.
“I think it’s part of a larger effort to try and spark interest and!reinvigorate interest in participating in local elections,” she said.
The deadline to register to vote in Los Angeles County is May 23. The last day to apply for a vote-by-mail ballot is May 31. There are 247,539 registered voters in Long Beach, according to the Long Beach city clerk’s web page.
More Information
Los Angeles Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk
(562) 466-1310
lavote.net
