Safe Presidential Election Plan

About the Program

Category: Risk and Emergency Management (Best in Category)

Year: 2021

In November 2020, the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk (RR/CC) faced the challenge of conducting the Presidential General Election during the COVID-19 pandemic. The 2020 Presidential General Election proved to be one of the largest elections in LA County history, increasing the COVID-19 risks associated with lines and crowds. Having just created processes for the implementation of a new voting system for the March 2020 election, the county quickly modified its processes to concentrate on voter safety. In response to the pandemic, the RR/CC developed the Safe Presidential Election Plan. Reinforced by guidelines from the CA Secretary of State and collaboration with the LA County Department of Public Health, the RR/CC established a comprehensive plan to protect voters and election workers. The RR/CC trained election workers to implement the plan and distributed Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and supplies to 800+ Vote Centers and Mobile Vote Centers. The implementation of the Safe Presidential Election Plan resulted in post-election surveys showing that 90% of in-person voters felt safe at the Vote Center.