The Korea Daily and the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder’s Office have partnered to set up a voting center at the publication’s headquarters (690 Wilshire Pl), drawing a steady stream of voters since its opening on October 2.
As the first Korean media outlet to host a voting center, coupled with Korea Daily’s strong presence in the community, the building in Koreatown saw voters gathering from the start of the polling time at 10 a.m.
Finding the voting center is straightforward. Voters first park in the designated lot on the south side of the building and proceed to the main entrance, where election staff and volunteers guide them to the basement gallery where the voting center is set up. Clear signage is posted at the entrance, and visitors can use either the stairs or the elevator to access the gallery.
The voting center in the basement is staffed with personnel, including Korean-speaking staff, to assist voters. The center is equipped with 15 electronic voting machines. Registered voters can check in by confirming their name and address without needing an ID.
Voters receive a ballot with a barcode and proceed to use the electronic voting machine, which features a touchscreen interface with instructions available in English or Korean. Once the machine scans the barcode, voters can follow the on-screen prompts to complete their ballot.
The entire voting process takes about 15 minutes. After casting their vote, participants received an “I Voted” sticker and applause from both election staff and fellow voters.
The voters visiting the headquarters included a mix of Korean Americans and people from various backgrounds, reflecting diverse political opinions.
Grace Lee, a Korean American voter, stated, “The economic issues are too severe,” adding that she cast her ballot for a candidate who she believes can restore the economy and embrace inclusivity.
James Johnson, an African American voter who came with his son, said, “America needs cleaning up, and the Israel issue must be resolved.” He noted that he chose a candidate focused on economic recovery and stronger border security. Recalling previous voting experiences with difficult parking and long lines that took up to 30 minutes, he appreciated the convenience of the Korea Daily location, which he could easily walk to.
Shaine, a mother who came with her young daughter, expressed frustration about rent prices, stating, “The rent prices are not normal.” She emphasized the need for rent control, sharing that even one-bedroom rentals have become unaffordable.
Colice, a white woman in her 20s, said she chose a candidate “who can work for the people,” adding, “I hope a president is elected who will work for the country, its citizens, and equality for all.”
The voting center at the Korea Daily headquarters will be open on November 4 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and on Election Day (Oct. 5) from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. The center also offers Korean language interpretation services by volunteers. Voters who have completed their mail-in ballots but have not yet returned them can drop them off at any voting location.
Citizens who have not yet registered to vote can do so on-site and cast their ballot on the same day. Addresses for voting centers in LA County can be found on the Registrar-Recorder’s website (locator.lavote.gov), while those in Orange County can visit (ocvote.gov/elections/vote-center-locations) for information.
BY HYOUNGJAE KIM, YOUNGNAM KIM [kim.youngnam@koreadaily.com]
