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 .
LA County agrees to make voting centers more accessible
A voter drops her ballot off in a ballot box outside the Los Angeles County Registrar in Norwalk during the 2022 midterm elections on November 8, 2022.
(
Frederic J. Brown
/
Getty Images
)
Topline:
Changes could be coming to voting centers for L.A. County to make them more accessible to voters with vision and mobility disabilities. The move is part of a settlement reached between the county and U.S. Department of Justice on Thursday.
Why now: The Justice Department alleged L.A. County failed to give safe access into polling places for voters with disabilities to cast their ballots. Those findings came after an investigation, which was part of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Voting Initiative.
What are the changes: Under the agreement, L.A. County must work with an independent accessibility expert for three years to make sure polling sites meet the needs of voters with disabilities.
Support for LAist comes from
Why it matters: Los Angeles County is the largest election jurisdiction in the United States, with more than 500 political districts and about 4.3 million registered voters, according to the Justice Department.
The backstory: The Justice Department surveyed the county’s polling locations since 2016 and found that most locations fell short. Barriers like steep ramps without handrails, inaccessible parking, and abrupt slopes at walkways and entrance doors were among the problems identified.
Read the full statement here.
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
-
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. -
Kevin Lee's Tokyo Noir has become one of the top spots for craft-inspired cocktails.
Best of LAist