On October 26, early voting centers across LA County opened, and Korean American voters have been actively participating.
Two early voting centers near Koreatown have begun operations. Voters can visit Anderson Munger YMCA near 3rd Street and Oxford Avenue, or Trinity Central Lutheran Church located at the intersection of Olympic Boulevard and Gramercy Place. These locations are open daily from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. until November 4, and from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day, November 5.
Any LA County voter can cast their ballot electronically at these centers, and they also accept mail-in ballots. Since these voting centers operate on weekends, voters can visit at their convenience. If lines grow during peak hours, the centers will remain open until all voters in line have cast their ballots.
For information on additional voting centers outside of Koreatown, visit the LA County Election Office’s Korean language page here.
On the first day of early voting, Korean American voters also showed up to cast their ballots.
Cathy Lee, the first Korean American to vote at the Lutheran Church location, shared, “I decided to vote early after reviewing the candidates and propositions. I wanted to show my son the process, and I hope the U.S. will move toward a smoother path that brings more comfort to its citizens.”
Another early voter, Bok-Sil Lee, said, “I came early to choose the candidates I had been following closely. It was nice to vote in a calm and relaxed environment.”
Two Korean-speaking volunteers were stationed at this voting center to assist voters.
Volunteer Sung-bae Kim noted, “I’ve volunteered multiple times, but this election seems to have a particularly high turnout. Nearly 20 voters had already come by the morning of the first day.”
As of the afternoon of October 27, around 90 people had voted at the YMCA center.
Meanwhile, the Korean American Coalition (KAC) is providing guidance on how to fill out ballots and vote. Voters can visit the KAC office (3727 W. 6th St. #305) on October 31, November 1, and November 4, or reach out via phone (213-365-5999) or in person on Election Day, November 5, for assistance.
BY BRIAN CHOI, YOUNGNAM KIM [kim.youngnam@koreadaily.com]
