Ever since Los Angeles switched from precinct-based polling places to more regional Vote Centers, local residents have also had a wider window of dates during which they can vote, and a wider array of options for how to vote, including postal mail, ballot drop boxes, and at LA County vote centers. Voting by mail and ballot drop box has been open since ballots were mailed to all registered voters a few weeks ago, and several of our local vote centers open today (with many more to follow on November 5).
Vote Centers
Vote centers serve as both in-person voting locations and as ballot drop-off sites. Two vote centers close to our general mid-Wilshire area open today:
Trinity Central Lutheran Church
987 S Gramercy Pl , Los Angeles CA 90019
Anderson Munger Family YMCA
4301 W 3rd St, Los Angeles CA 90020
Bot of these sites will be open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. through November 7, then open 7 a.m.-8 p.m. on November 8.
Additional area vote centers opening next Saturday, November 5, include:
Los Angeles High School
4650 W Olympic Blvd, Los Angeles CA 90019
Korean Institute of Southern California
4900 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles CA 90010
John Burroughs Middle School
600 S McCadden Pl, Los Angeles CA 90005
These vote centers will be open from 10 a.m. to 7 pm. November 5-7, and 7 a.m.-8 p.m. on Tuesday, November 8.
Of course, one of the other nice things about LA County vote centers is that unlike the old neighborhood polling places, you can vote at any vote center in Los Angeles County. So if it’s more convenient to vote closer to your place of employment, or while you’re out and about on other errands, you’re welcome to do so. To find other vote centers (both 11-day and 4-day centers), see https://locator.lavote.gov/locations/vc?id=4300&culture=en. The interactive map also includes estimated wait times at each location.
And, finally, to help things go even faster and more smoothly at the vote center of your choice, online check-in and voter registration status verification is available before you go to vote at https://www.lavote.gov/vrstatus/.
Voting by Mail and at Ballot Drop Boxes
Ballots were mailed to all registered voters earlier this month, and returns have been accepted by U.S. postal mail (no postage required!) and at local ballot drop boxes since the ballots went out. In our area, you can find secure ballot drop-off boxes at our local branch libraries – Memorial (4625 W. Olympic Blvd.), John C. Fremont (6121 Melrose Ave.), Wilshire (149 N. St. Andrews Pl.), and Fairfax (161 S. Gardner St.). Drop boxes, like Vote Centers, will close at 8 p.m. on election day. And, as with vote centers, you may drop your ballot in any drop box in LA County. To find other locations, see https://locator.lavote.gov/locations/vbm?culture=en.
For those who mail or drop off ballots, you can also check the status of your ballot, to make sure it was received and counted, at https://www.lavote.gov/av_inquiry.
If your ballot is postmarked by Election Day (November 8) and received within seven days of its postmark, it will be processed, verified and counted.
