City officials proclaim Get Out the Vote Month

Independent Staff Report

WEST HOLLYWOOD — The city as proclaimed October as Get Out The Vote Month to raise awareness and educate residents about the importance of voting in the upcoming general municipal election Nov. 3.

The election will be conducted by the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk. In addition to federal, state and county issues, West Hollywood residents will be casting their votes for two members of the City Council and deciding on one city ballot measure.

The city is displaying banners urging people to vote on 85 light poles in the city. The banners have been created by West Hollywood-based artist Miguel Andrisani, who developed a selection of original artwork with bright and diverse illustrations of people who embody three ways to vote: by mail, by ballot drop-off, and by vote center.

To provide other information and to give voters the opportunity to ask questions about the upcoming election, the city will hosting a virtual Election Information Town Hall via the Zoom platform from 5 to 6 p.m. Oct. 13. During the meeting, voters will learn how to vote by mail, where to drop off their vote-by-mail ballot, how to track their vote-by-mail ballot, where to vote in person and what safety measures will be taking place at vote centers.

The deadline to register to vote is Oct. 19. Voters can check on their registration status at lavote.net/vrstatus.

The city has worked with the county to establish three ballot drop box locations in West Hollywood. They are bright yellow and clearly marked. They feature safety and security features, such as 24-hour electronic monitoring. They are located behind West Hollywood City Hall, off of Sweetzer Avenue; West Hollywood Library, 625 N. San Vicente Blvd., in front of the library; and at Plummer Park, 7377 Santa Monica Blvd.,

in front of the Plummer Park Community Center.

Traditional neighborhood polling places have been replaced by vote centers, which allow all county residents to vote at any vote center over. All vote centers will be open from Oct. 30 to Nov. 3. Some will open as early as Oct. 24.

All vote centers have made health and safety a priority and will follow state and county public health and safety guidelines, including voters must use facial coverings and gloves (coverings and gloves will be made available if needed); wiping and sanitizing all surfaces and ballot marking devices will be done after each voter; social distancing of six feet or more will be enforced and all election workers will wear protective gloves and masks.

More information is available at www.weho.org/elections.