City Clerk's Office Launches Adopt a Poll Program to Boost Voter Participation

The Regular City Council meeting held on May 26, 2000, focused on enhancing voter participation through innovative outreach initiatives led by the City Clerk's Election Division. The meeting began with a presentation from the Voter Outreach Team, which highlighted the importance of maintaining polling places that cater to the diverse cultural and linguistic needs of Los Angeles residents.

City Clerk Mike Carey addressed the council, noting that polling locations had been canceled near election days, which hindered voter participation. In response, the Election Division developed the "Adopt a Poll" program, which involved contacting over 800 community-based organizations and recruiting high school students as multilingual polling place workers. This initiative resulted in the staffing of 248 polling places with bilingual workers, supporting seven of the most commonly spoken languages in the city.

The outreach efforts not only increased local polling support but also fostered stronger community involvement and awareness about the voting process. The program reportedly saved the city approximately $225,000 in labor and advertising costs. Carey emphasized the significance of these efforts in making voters feel more comfortable and connected to the electoral system.

The meeting also recognized the contributions of the project team, including Sandy Casana, Joanne Boyd, Sharon Ishabashi, and Camilo Cruz, who played vital roles in the initiative. Carey expressed gratitude for their creativity and dedication, indicating plans to expand the program to address ongoing language barriers in the community.

In conclusion, the council meeting underscored the city's commitment to improving voter engagement and accessibility, with future proposals anticipated to further enhance these efforts as the new fiscal year approaches.