Reminder By West Hollywood City: September 22 Is National Voter Registration Day

Press release from the City of West Hollywood:

September 21, 2020

As part of the City of West Hollywood’s continuous efforts to increase voter participation, the City reminds community members that each vote counts and your voice matters in the upcoming General Municipal Election in November.

The deadline to register for the General Municipal Election is Monday, October 19, 2020. September 22 is recognized as National Voter Registration Day and the City of West Hollywood encourages community members to check voter registration status at lavote.net/vrstatus.

The General Municipal Election is coming up. Election Day will be Tuesday, November 3, 2020. But there are many ways to vote early. Postal mail-in and ballot-drop-off voting will begin on Monday, October 5, 2020. Many LA County Vote Centers will begin operating on Saturday, October 24, 2020.

“Although it is said often, this truly is the most important election of our lifetimes,” said City of West Hollywood Mayor Lindsey P. Horvath. “Make your vote plan now. Let’s be certain that everyone who is eligible to vote is properly registered and then casts their vote — either by mail-in ballot, by dropping your ballot at a ballot drop box or vote center, or voting in-person as soon as possible after vote centers open on Saturday, October 24. And if you prefer to vote in-person on Election Day, be certain to wear your face covering, maintain social distance, wear comfortable shoes, and bring snacks along as there may be long waits to vote on November 3. We have the opportunity to create incredibly positive change this election. Let’s make our voices heard and vote!”

In California, you are eligible to register and vote if you are:

• A United States citizen;
• At least 18-years-old;
• Registered where you currently reside;
• Not currently in state or federal prison or on parole for the conviction of a felony; and
• Not currently found mentally incompetent to vote by a court.

The City of West Hollywood encourages every eligible voter to have a vote plan with the following tips:

• Check your voter registration status or register to vote at lavote.net/vrstatus or call (800) 815-2666;
• Decide how you would like to vote: Vote by Mail; Drop off a ballot at a Ballot Drop Box or a Vote Center; Vote in-person at a Vote Center;
• Educate yourself about the issues and then vote as soon as you receive your ballot;
• Encourage your friends, family, and neighbors to vote or register to vote;
• Assist those who need help with their mail-in ballot or offer to take a homebound senior to a Vote Center; and
• Track your ballot. You can sign-up to receive personalized text messages, emails, and/or automated voice messages on your Vote-by-Mail ballot (whether sent by mail or dropped off at a Ballot Drop Box or Vote Center) by subscribing to Where's My Ballot. This is a free service available to all registered voters that provides updated information about where your ballot is and when you can expect to receive it. Sign up to be notified of the status of your ballot at california.ballottrax.net/voter.

City of West Hollywood voters will receive complete ballot information by mail. In addition to voting in the Presidential Election, City of West Hollywood voters will:

• Vote to fill two (2) West Hollywood City Council seats for four-year terms; a list of qualified candidates is available at www.weho.org/elections; and
• Vote on Measure E will be on the ballot as a yes or no vote: “To maintain West Hollywood services and prepare for and recover from public health emergencies, address homelessness, help retain local businesses/jobs, support senior and health-related services, keep public areas clean and safe, repair potholes/streets, maintain community safety, and provide other City services, shall a measure be adopted establishing a ¾ cent sales tax providing approximately eleven million dollars annually until ended by voters, requiring public disclosure of spending, independent financial audits and all funds being used locally?”

Below is more specific information about the various options available for voting in the November 3, 2020 General Municipal Election:

Dropping a Ballot Off at a Ballot Drop Box or Vote Center

The City of West Hollywood has worked with LA County to establish three Ballot Drop Box locations in West Hollywood. These Ballot Drop Boxes will be installed in early October 2020 and will be bright yellow and clearly marked. They will feature safety and security features, such as 24-hour electronic monitoring. Locations will be as follows:

• West Hollywood City Hall, located at 8300 Santa Monica Boulevard (Ballot Drop Box located behind City Hall, off of N. Sweetzer Avenue)

• West Hollywood Library, located at 625 N. San Vicente Boulevard (Ballot Drop Box located on the west side of the street, in front of the library)

• Plummer Park, located at 7377 Santa Monica Boulevard (Ballot Drop Box located in front of the Plummer Park Community Center)

Voting In-Person at a Vote Center

Traditional neighborhood “polling places” have been replaced in Los Angeles County by Vote Centers, which allow LA County residents (which includes West Hollywood residents) to vote at any Vote Center location over an 11-day period. Select Vote Centers will be available beginning Saturday, October 24, 2020. All Vote Centers will be available beginning Friday, October 30, 2020.

All Los Angeles County voters will have 10 consecutive days as well as Election Day, Tuesday, November 3, 2020, to vote in-person at a Vote Center.

In the City of West Hollywood, there will be a Vote Center at Plummer Park’s Fiesta Hall, located at 7377 Santa Monica Boulevard. This Vote Center will be open from Saturday, October 30, 2020 to Tuesday, November 3, 2020. For additional Vote Center locations, visit https://locator.lavote.net/locations/vc.

During the early voting period, from Saturday, October 24, 2020 to Monday, November 2, 2020, Vote Centers will be open every day from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. On Election Day, Tuesday, November 3, 2020, Vote Centers will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

All Vote Centers have made health and safety is a priority and will follow state and county public health and safety guidelines, such as:

• Voters must use facial coverings and gloves (coverings and gloves will be made available if needed);
• Wiping and sanitizing all surfaces and Ballot Marking Devices after each voter;
• Enforcement of social distancing of six feet or more; and
• Election workers will wear protective gloves and masks.

The City of West Hollywood remains in a declared local emergency in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. While Los Angeles County is allowing for a phased reopening of some businesses and activities, coronavirus transmission and COVID-19 disease remain a serious risk. West Hollywood City Hall is currently closed to in-person transactions, but City Hall services remain accessible by phone at (323) 848-6400 and via the City’s website at www.weho.org. City of West Hollywood coronavirus information is available at www.weho.org/coronavirus.

For more information, please call the City of West Hollywood’s City Clerk’s Office at (323) 848-6409, visit the City’s Elections page at www.weho.org/elections. Call the California Secretary of State’s Voter Hotline toll-free at (800) 345-VOTE (8683). For people who are Deaf or hard of hearing, please call TTY (323) 848-6496.

For up-to-date news and events, follow the City of West Hollywood on social media @WeHoCity, sign up for news updates at www.weho.org/email, and visit the City’s calendar of meetings and events at www.weho.org/calendar.

For reporters and members of the media seeking additional information about the City of West Hollywood, please contact the City of West Hollywood’s Public Information Officer, Sheri A. Lunn, at (323) 848-6391 or slunn@weho.org.

This press release was produced by the City of West Hollywood. The views expressed here are the author’s own.