Los Angeles residents have two options to vote early in California: apply for an absentee mail-in ballot, or march on over to the L.A. County Registrar-Recorder’s Office in Norwalk.
Starting today, voters can fill out a ballot at 12400 Imperial Highway for the November 4th election.
Early touch screen voting was available at a number of L.A. locations countywide as as recently as the 2006 locations, but the machines were determined to be “challenged” and their use discontinued.
To find other early voting locations in California and the other 30 states where it’s allowed, visit Declare Yourself.
UPDATE: Additional details regarding hours, including weekends:
Weekdays:
Mon-Fri, October 6th - November 3rd
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Weekends:
Sat/Sun, October 25th & 26th, and November 1st & 2nd
8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
12 responses so far ↓
AnOldieButAGoodie // October 7, 2008 at 9:27 am
Hey thanks for the heads up. I’m thinking about going on and voting since I”m sure of who I’m voting for
PSA: You can vote early! | Los Angeles Metblogs // October 7, 2008 at 4:23 pm
[...] ole’ hat tip to California Faultline and our pal A. Moon for writing in & pointing this [...]
TB // October 14, 2008 at 11:22 am
“…but the machines were determined to be “challenged” and their use discontinued…” I’ll say! I voted early in 2004 on a touch screen on Vermont in Hollywood and some of the machines kept confirming your vote for Bush even if you voted for Kerry. This was wreaking havoc among voters who noticed it - and panic among voters who weren’t sure if they were paying close enough attention to have noticed. The poll workers were scrambling to shut-down offending machines. I wonder how many Kerry supporters inadvertently voted for Bush as a result. Sickening. Something you’d expect in a 3rd world county.
mairin // October 18, 2008 at 9:27 am
went to vote early today at norwalk and got turned away.they said voting doesn’t start till two weeks before the election but their website says otherwise. They said they were turning people away all week. One man there with us is leaving the state for three weeks tomorrow and was really counting on voting today.
OB1 // October 22, 2008 at 11:54 am
Just spoke to the L.A. County Registrar-Recorder’s office and they confirmed that early voting is going on and no one is being turned away. Mon - Fri 8am - 5pm and this weekend 10/25 & 10/26 they will be open from 8am - 4pm.
52faces // October 24, 2008 at 7:02 pm
Dammit, I don’t even know what Norwalk is, but it sounds as attractive as City of Industry.
::marching over to absentee ballot link::
Top Posts « WordPress.com // October 27, 2008 at 5:18 pm
[...] L.A.’s only early voting location is… Los Angeles residents have two options to vote early in California: apply for an absentee mail-in ballot, or march on [...] [...]
Jasper // October 30, 2008 at 3:36 pm
Here is some important info for Los Angeles early voters. Hopefully you can help spread the word by putting this info on this website and having volunteers in LA disseminate it.
If you want to vote early in person in Los Angeles county, there is only one place to do it: the Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk (RR/CC) office at 12400 Imperial Hwy, Norwalk CA 90650 (phone 800-815-2666).
That’s right, Los Angeles is the second largest city in US (population 4 million) and Los Angeles County is the largest county in the US (population 10.3 million). But they have only one location where we can vote early in person. The line stretches out around the block and wait times are close to two hours. But here is how you can do it much faster:
Call the RR/CC number 1-800-815-2666 extension 2. I was on hold for 8 minutes before they answered (8 minutes on the phone in my home is much better than 2 hours in a line). Ask for an EXPRESS BALLOT. They will ask for your name and identifying info and put your ballot aside. They will also give you a time by which you have to be there.
Then go to Norwalk (and take your filled in sample ballot with you - you will need it). Allow extra time for parking. You will see a very long line of people, waiting to vote, snaking around the big building. Do NOT go into this line. Instead walk directly into the building and take the elevator to the third floor. Follow the red line taped to the floor to the DMV style office at the end of several corridors. Once inside the office look for a green sign hanging over the counter that says “Express Ballot”. Walk to that counter, show your ID and ask for your ballot.
That’s it. Viola, now you can vote and you did not have to wait two hours in line. Just take the envelope they gave you and find an empty voting booth in the corridor (ask one of the friendly helpful poll workers out there).
By the way, no fancy machines here. All you get is a card with a bunch of numbers and ovals beneath each number that you ink in, sort of like a SAT exam card. Hopefully you brought your filled-in sample ballot with you to help you. Fill in the correct ovals to reflect your choices. Insert the card into the envelope provided, sign it, and drop it into the box that the poll worker points you to.
Now proudly stick the “I Voted” label to your shirt, take the long walk back to your car, and
the even longer drive to where ever you happen to live in the Los Angeles county.
The RR/CC office is open on the weekend too. The hours: 8 am to 8 pm on Fri and Sat (10/31/08 and 11/1/08). Sunday (11/2) from 8 am to 4 pm. Monday (11/3) from 8 am to 5 pm.
Mike Doyle // October 30, 2008 at 3:54 pm
This is so astoundingly amazing, in a bad way. Here in Chicago–a city of 3 million people–we have 51 early voting locations, all touch screen. We have one in each of our 50 City Council wards and an extra one downtown for good measure. It took me eight minutes WALKING to reach my nearest early voting location.
What on earth is Los Angeles thinking?
Cynthia C // November 1, 2008 at 9:03 am
Thank you so much. I called this morning, spent about 5 minutes on the phone. The operator who helped me could not have been nice and Iwill be picking up my ballot after 2pm today. The operator did let me know to allow 4 hours from you call to when you pick up. Yay! Thanks again
Heather // November 1, 2008 at 7:55 pm
I just called 1-800-815-2666 extension 2 and requested an express ballet for Norwalk, CA. The operator asked me for my name, address, and phone number. After verifying, said she will have it ready within 3 hours and to let the security officer know I was picking one up so they can direct me to the right place. This will help me avoid the long lines! Call and do the same!
talulah // November 3, 2008 at 4:54 am
well i guess california govt is focusing on other things..hmm..i have been in cal for a number of years and i think that it is not all that with it.
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