California Eyes Turning Arenas, Businesses, Into Polling Places
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (CN) — Adding another wrinkle to an unparalleled election, California elections officials hope to turn empty sports arenas and private businesses into polling sites come November.
While counties are required to mail ballots to registered voters as part of the state’s strategy to slow the coronavirus, they also must open ample traditional voting sites under legislation approved by lawmakers Thursday. But with less than 100 days before Election Day, over half of the state’s 58 counties warn they are struggling to secure places willing and able to accommodate socially distant voting.
“This is an all-hands-on-deck moment,” said California Secretary of State Alex Padilla. “Anybody who has a facility that may lend itself to an in-person location this November, we need your help.”
Padilla told reporters many facilities that have traditionally doubled as polling sites, like senior centers or retirement homes, won’t be available to counties due to pandemic-related public health orders. To fill the void, Padilla is encouraging counties to find creative fixes with city leaders, school districts and the private sector.
Sacramento is one of the many counties scrambling as so far it has secured just 39 physical sites, compared to the 84 it offered during the March primary. Its shortage spurred a deal between the county and the Sacramento Kings to transform the basketball team’s 17,000-seat arena into a voting center.
https://www.courthousenews.com/california-eyes-turning-arenas-businesses-into-polling-places/
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