I like voting in person. It makes the election process more real to me, and more fun. As a resident of Los Angeles County — the boundary is about one mile east of me — I’m allowed to vote anywhere in the county.
Sticking close to home, my community, Claremont, has three, and neighboring Pomona and La Verne have several too.
But on Sunday yours truly was headed to L.A., which opened up more exotic voting locales.
In 2020 the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion was my voting center of choice. I felt very sophisticated voting beneath a chandelier. In 2024, reflecting the year’s drama, the Ahmanson Theatre was my stage.
Neither of those is a voting center this time. Sticking to the city-core theme, I picked the Kenneth Hahn Hall of Administration, the county’s seat of government.
Admittedly, it was a nerdy choice. Even as a government-watcher, I’d never had a reason to step inside. Here was an excuse.
Also, with a plan afoot to relocate the county’s HQ (to the nearby Gas Company Tower) and vacate the building, I might as well seize the opportunity while it’s here.
For the record, Los Angeles County, San Bernardino County and Riverside County have hundreds of polling places, each with multiple voting booths. You likely knew that.
President Donald Trump doesn’t. He told Fox News on Saturday regarding California: “You know, they don’t have voting booths; everything’s by mail… I know the system very well.”
The Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder, which knows the system slightly better, responded online with a “MISINFORMATION ALERT” and a link to the interactive map of its 646 vote centers.
All the more reason to vote in person.
After breakfast and the morning papers at Cafecito Organico in Virgil Village and a hot-chicken sandwich at Daybird, I rode the B Line subway to the Civic Center stop.
Bypassing the escalator, I climbed the 105 stairs to the plaza level. After catching my breath, I crossed Hill Street into Gloria Molina Grand Park, where people were enjoying a sunny afternoon, and to the Hall of Administration.
The entry to the 1960 building is momentous. Inside, the lobby is institutional and charmless, and a glance down one tunnel-like hallway was stultifying. Onward.
Standing sentinel outside the elevators was a surprise: coin-operated news racks for two of our sister newspapers, the L.A. Daily News and the Long Beach Press-Telegram. Suddenly I felt at home, even though both were empty. I took a photo.
Further down the lobby was the vote center. It was in full operation, although I was the lone voter. A half-dozen people were on the other side of the check-in table, ready to assist. A supervisor welcomed me and led me to someone to check me in.
The young volunteer cheerfully confirmed my name and address, verified electronically that I hadn’t voted yet, had me sign in and gave me a ballot.
Making small talk, I asked how many people had voted that day. The answer: eight. It was 2 p.m. and the center had been open since 10 a.m.
“Eight including me?” I asked, always striving to get the details right. “I’m No. 8?”
“Yes,” the poll worker said with a smile. “You’re in the top 10!”
I raised both arms in celebration.
Every yellow-and-black voting machine was open. I settled in at one, my voter guide open — luckily, voting is an open-book test — as I scrolled through the choices on my touchscreen for statewide offices, judges and a county tax measure.
Incidentally, just because I was voting within the city limits of L.A. didn’t mean the mayor’s race was on my ballot. There may be confusion about that in the suburbs too.
Journalist Ken Bensinger tweeted: “How many people in Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, Culver City and Calabasas are feeling shocked to discover that Spencer Pratt isn’t on their ballots right now?”
Among those replying was Hank Fung of Covina, who said: “I am working the election again, as I often do, and a same day registrant wanted to vote for LA mayor in Glendora.”
Good luck with that.
Back to the Hall of Administration. Five minutes later, choices made, reviewed and confirmed, I cast my ballot with the press of a button. “Thanks for voting!” appeared on the screen. “Don’t forget your sticker on your way out!”
I got an “I Voted” sticker and wore it the rest of the day.
An “I Voted” sticker also came with my mail-in ballot. Voters at home can slap this sticker on just like in-person voters.
I’ll be wearing that second sticker Tuesday. Never hurts to reinforce the message: Vote. As the saying goes, it ain’t illegal yet.
David Allen writes Wednesday, Friday and Sunday, his primary role. Email dallen@scng.com, phone 909-483-9339, and follow davidallencolumnist on Facebook or Instagram, @davidallen909 on X or @davidallen909.bsky.social on Bluesky.