Los Angeles, CA - October 21, 2024 -- Center for Asian Americans United for Self Empowerment (CAUSE) is partnering with the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk’s office to bring an official Mobile Vote Center to the largest Halloween party in Little Tokyo, the 8th Annual Haunted Little Tokyo Block Party. This Vote Center will have later hours than typical Vote Centers, staying open until 9pm PT. The later hours combined with the proximity to a community block party that draws thousands of people annually, is meant to create a fun and accessible voting experience for younger voters, a voting age block that often has lower voter turnout nationally.
CAUSE Announces Together We Vote: An API Get Out The Vote Fest
Los Angeles, CA - October 18, 2024 -- Center for Asian Americans United for Self Empowerment (CAUSE) will host a series of events called Together We Vote: An API Get Out the Vote Fest throughout Los Angeles’ historic Asian and Pacific Islander (API) neighborhoods celebrating community and civic engagement in the 10 days of early voting leading up to the November 5 General Election. Collaborating with the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk and nine other API community based organizations, CAUSE will engage event attendees with activities that highlight historic neighborhoods and encourage increased civic participation.
Open Letter to Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors on Engaging Non-English/Limited-English Proficient Voters in LAC
New In-Person Voting Options Added in Chinatown and Koreatown for the 2022 Primary
Los Angeles, CA - May 23, 2022 - Chinatown and Koreatown voters will now have several in-person voting options in their neighborhoods for the June 7, 2022 Statewide Direct Primary Election, thanks to the efforts of the Center for Asian Americans United for Self-Empowerment (CAUSE), Korean American Coalition (KAC), AAPI Equity Alliance, and Asian Americans Advancing Justice - Los Angeles (AAAJ-LA).
Join our Efforts: We Need Vote Centers in Koreatown and Chinatown
Join our Efforts: We Need Vote Centers in Koreatown and Chinatown
Through a thread on Twitter on May 9, it was discovered that there were ZERO Vote Centers in both Chinatown and Koreatown residential areas for the 2022 Primary Election.
When asked, the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder / County Clerk (RR/CC) reported having trouble working within their current criteria and policies to identify available spaces for this primary election. While we hope to work with them in the long-term to identify where county policies and practices are leading to inequitable service of our communities, we can't let those policies stop us from seeking immediate solutions for this primary. In previous election years, there were locations throughout Koreatown and Chinatown. These sites were overwhelmingly popular and experienced long wait times to vote. We believe this indicates a need for more voting sites, rather than the elimination of all of them.
With Election Day weeks away, we are taking action to determine how we can expand voting access for Chinatown and Koreatown residents who would have difficulty going to a Vote Center outside of their neighborhoods. Access to these Vote Centers is critical as Vote Centers offer key services such as obtaining a replacement vote-by-mail ballot, language assistance services, etc.
At this time of increased Anti-Asian Hate, where 3 out of 4 Asian Americans are worried about physical violence, in the recent poll by CAUSE, asking Asian American, Pacific Islander voters to walk one to two miles, or even several blocks to cast their ballot does not take into account their physical safety. Nor should they have to risk such physical violence in order to be meaningful participants in U.S. civic life. In addition, sites in Koreatown and Chinatown provide language services unavailable at community centers at the edge of their community boundaries.
On Monday, May 16th, CAUSE, KAC, AAPI Equity, and AAAJ-LA met with RR/CC to understand why this happened, what has been done in the past week to fix the problem, and what else could be done before June 7th. At this meeting, we learned the following:
Securing Vote Centers
Since last Monday and with the assistance of community leaders, one location has been identified in central Chinatown and three are being vetted in the northern half of Koreatown for a 4- or 11- Day Vote Center. The locations are yet to be confirmed, but look promising.
CAUSE, KAC, AAPI Equity and AAAJ-LA advocated for multiple Vote Centers in both neighborhoods in addition to Flex Centers which run for a shorter time in smaller spaces. RR/CC is open to more sites if identified quickly.
Staffing Capacity
These Vote Centers will need staff and volunteers to work between Saturday, May 28 and Tuesday, June 7. RR/CC said it may still be possible to staff newly added Vote Centers IF they are confirmed by the end of the week (5/20/22).
Communications about new Vote Centers
RR/CC planning for social media, postcard/mailers, and work with CBOs. Translations will be at a minimum in Korean, Chinese and Spanish.
Community Asks
Do you have suggestions for potential Vote Center sites in Chinatown and/or Koreatown? In particular, we are seeking assistance in locating a site in the southeast area of Koreatown (sites are being identified north of 6th, but not closer to Olympic – and in particular, in the area of Koreatown that is closer to Olympic between Normandie and Vermont) and any senior centers in both neighborhoods.
Full Vote Center site requirements: https://lavote.gov/docs/rrcc/election-info/VC-Requirements.pdf?v=2
Flex Vote Center site application (please submit even though deadline has passed): https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=SHJZBzjqG0WKvqY47dusgdc4Siti35NOvV0uvKxwaxZUQVBZUlBYSVIzQjVBUUNBSDRLMUVLVFJUQi4u&utm_content=&utm_medium=email&utm_name=&utm_source=govdelivery&utm_term=&wdLOR=c69E0E773-6DC6-4101-83F3-C13CA50B7E9C
Are you available to work as a volunteer between Saturday, May 28 to Tuesday, June 7? Can you help us spread the word about this need for volunteers?
We are in the process of scheduling future meetings with RR/CC and we will keep the community updated on future developments.
Thank you for your support, and please let me know if you have any questions or would like more information.
Sincerely,
Center for Asian Americans United for Self Empowerment
Korean American Coalition
AAPI Equity Alliance
Asian Americans Advancing Justice - Los Angeles
