Los Angeles voters were able to cast their ballots today at the mobile voting center at the Farmer’s Market near the Grove. Set up directly in front of Kip’s Toyland were voting booths and a registration table.
L. A. County first introduced these mobile voting centers in the 2020 election through what’s called Voting Solutions for All People, also known as VSAP. The program focuses on Americans who experience voting barriers, including seniors, incarcerated people, those with disabilities and people in assisted living facilities.
Mobile polling centers opened on October 26 and there are about 28 more scheduled voting events across LA County that are available until election day.
Kevin Grant, an election worker for L.A. County, noted the convenient voting options that allow people to vote before Election Day, and outside traditional polling places. These mobile voting locations provide greater accessibility to voting for a wider range of the Los Angeles community.
“What I found is that a lot of people traditionally think that you need to wait up until the election,” Grant said. “So with these pop ups, it gives people an opportunity to go in between lunch, think it’s convenience, and it’ll allow more voters to have access that normally. If you get off late, you have kids, school, for instance, and you can’t get to the vote center, you have an opportunity to get somewhere that’s a lot closer.”
Currently there are five mobile voting centers for Los Angeles County. Michael Murtishaw, one of the vote center leads, explained that these centers provide a place to vote for people who are already registered voters, and also for those wishing to register on the spot.
“We are just out here to give the ability to vote to any and all people that are either registered to vote or just live in L.A. County,” Murtishaw said. “We can register people the same day to vote in the current election.”
Tomorrow a mobile voting center will be at the USC Health Science Campus from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For additional pop-up dates visit lavote.gov.