With our free press under threat and federal funding for public media gone, your support matters more than ever. Help keep the LAist newsroom strong, become a monthly member or increase your support today .
Some California voters don't trust Post Office to mail ballots, study says
Listen
• 0:54
The UC Davis research found a lot of Asians, African-Americans and Latinos don't trust the post office to deliver their ballots on time.
(
Photo by Drew Bell via Flickr Creative Commons
)
As California moves closer to the rollout of a major voting overhaul law, new research from UC Davis suggests that some racial and ethnic groups could be left behind under the new system.
The research, released Thursday by the university's California Civic Engagement Project, shows large disparities among racial and ethnic groups regarding mail voting and the degree to which they trust the U.S. Postal Service, which is a key component to voting by mail.
The new law, which was signed by Gov. Jerry Brown last fall, is expected to shutter many neighborhood polling places. Instead, counties will have the option to switch to "vote centers," where voters can cast ballots over a period of up to 10 days. The new system will also rely heavily on an increased use of voting by mail. In most parts of the state, all registered voters will automatically receive a vote-by-mail ballot.
The change is set to begin in a handful of counties starting next year and is expected to help reduce the cost of elections. L.A. County is expected to adopt the new voting system in 2020. Orange County's Board of Supervisors recently halted the 2018 rollout, even though the registrar had been a proponent of the plan.
Support for LAist comes from
As many counties move to implement the new voting system, some worry that groups who don’t vote by mail in large numbers may be left out.
The survey found that among respondents who don’t send in their ballots via the mail, nearly half of Asians said they didn’t trust the postal service to deliver their ballots safely and on time.
African-Americans and Latinos also mistrusted the post office in larger numbers — at rates of 32 and 29 percent, respectively. Only 21 percent of white respondents felt the same way.
In addition, voter records show Latinos vote by mail less frequently in California than the total population of registered voters.
The details released Thursday are the latest research from UC Davis' Civic Engagement Project.
At LAist, we believe in journalism without censorship and the right of a free press to speak truth to those in power. Our hard-hitting watchdog reporting on local government, climate, and the ongoing housing and homelessness crisis is trustworthy, independent and freely accessible to everyone thanks to the support of readers like you.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
The historic properties have been sitting vacant for decades and were put on the market as-is, with prices ranging from $750,000 to $1.75 million. -
Users of the century old Long Beach wooden boardwalk give these suggestions to safely enjoy it. -
The Newport Beach City Council approved a new artificial surf park that will replace part of an aging golf course. -
The utility, whose equipment is believed to have sparked the Eaton Fire, says payouts could come as quickly as four months after people submit a claim. But accepting the money means you'll have to forego any lawsuits. -
The City Council will vote Tuesday on a proposal to study raising the pay for construction workers on apartments with at least 10 units and up to 85 feet high. -
The study found recipients spent nearly all the money on basic needs like food and transportation, not drugs or alcohol.
Best of LAist