The Extended Education building where eligible Los Angeles voters can vote in person, drop off their mail-in ballot or complete the same-day voter registration. Photo by Iracema Navarro.
By Iracema Navarro, Politics Editor
California State University, Dominguez Hills will once again play a part in sustaining the country’s democracy by allowing any Los Angeles eligible voter to cast their vote for the upcoming general election by hosting an 11-day vote center.
People from the community and CSUDH students will have an opportunity to step on campus for the first time this semester to vote at the Extended Education Auditorium EE1213 and EE1218 from Oct. 24 to Nov. 3.
The Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk and the Office of Government and Community Relations at CSUDH will have more days this year after it served as a four-day voting center earlier this year on March 3 for the Presidential Primary Election.
Dr. Khaleah Bradshaw, associate director of external community relations said it was a long process this time around in confirming the voting center on campus because of the pandemic but it was necessary for the community.
Voters will be able to enter the auditorium room to vote in person, drop off their mail-in ballot, or complete the same-day voter registration from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. On the Nov. 3 Election Day however, the vote center will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. and all those in line by 8 p.m. will be able to enter the auditorium to vote.
The voting center on campus will follow protocols set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention by placing voting machines 6- feet apart, cleaning and disinfecting the machines, requiring masks to be worn by all in attendance, and enforcing voting lines to remain outside to maintain social distancing.
“There are going to be fewer centers around and we wanted to make sure there was a local option for the community,” Bradshaw said.
Kianna Gonzales, a senior sociology major, believes this is a crucial election due to issues such as climate change, contraception policies, and immigration.
“More voting centers open means more opportunities and the more likely it is for people to get out and vote,” Gonzales said.
Voters will be able to park at no cost in parking lot three near Victoria St. and from the entrance of James L. Welch Hall.
The city of Carson will be home to 10 voting centers and seven vote-by-mail drop boxes for the general elections. The safest and preferred voting option in the general election is to vote by mail. All registered voters will receive a vote by mail ballot allowing accessibility to voters during the pandemic.
Vote.
