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Department of Justice says it will monitor election sites in LA and OC
A voter casts their ballot for the California Primary Election at the Union Station voting center in Los Angeles on June 7, 2022.
(
Trevor Stamp
/
LAist
)
Topline:
The Department of Justice will monitor polling sites in Los Angeles and Orange counties ahead of the Nov. 4 election to “ensure transparency, ballot security, and compliance with federal law.” The announcement on Friday comes a day before vote centers are set to open for polling across California.
What polling sites will be monitored? Federal officials said in a statement that five counties are on the department’s watch list, including Riverside, Fresno, Orange, Los Angeles and Kern.
What O.C. officials say: Registrar of Voters Bob Page said in a statement that Orange County elections are transparent. “It is common for us to have local, state, federal, and sometimes international observers, watching how we administer elections that are accessible, accurate, fair, secure, and transparent,” Page said.
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What L.A. officials say: Dean Logan, L.A. County Registrar-Recorder and County Clerk, said in a statement that the presence of election observers is not unusual. “Federal election monitors, like all election observers, are welcome to view election activities at designated locations to confirm transparency and integrity in the election process,” Logan said. “Voters can have confidence their ballot is handled securely and counted accurately.”
What else to know: Starting today and until Election Day, officials from the department’s Civil Rights Division will be available to answer questions and complaints from the public, according to the DOJ.
Where to cast your ballot: Vote centers across Orange and Los Angeles will open on Saturday and remain open until Election Day. You can find those locations in Orange County here and for Los Angeles County here .
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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.
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