A New Way to Vote
To meet the evolving needs of nearly five million voters, Los Angeles County is challenging traditional ideas about voting systems. Innovations and new technology have revolutionize voting for all in LA County.
Poll Pass: Interactive Sample Ballot
LA County voters receive sample ballots in the mail to help them make their selections at the polls. This year, they’ll have a high-tech option: Poll Pass, or the Interactive Sample Ballot.
Registered voters in LA County can visit the official Poll Pass website to view their personalized interactive sample ballot. Voters can mark their selections ahead of time generate a QR code for scanning and uploading, and review your selections on a modern, sleek touchscreen called a Ballot Marking Device.
Check out LA Vote's website on interactive sample ballots for more information and to make your Poll Pass.
Ballot Marking Device
LA County voters used to mark their ballots using the InkaVote system. InkaVote has been replaced by new technology called the Ballot Marking Device.
Accessibility
Using input from the voting public and engaging expert designers, Los Angeles County’s voting system has been reimagined to use a high-tech ballot marking device with customizable options.
- Scan your Poll Pass (interactive sample ballot) at any Ballot Marking Device to automatically load your selections.
- All content on the touchscreen is available in 13 languages.
- The touchscreen display is adjustable to find your optimal viewing angle.
- The touchscreen’s text size and contrast settings are also adjustable.
- For the visually impaired, each ballot marking device comes equipped with an audio headset that can read the ballot to you in 13 languages, as well as an accessible control pad to help you make your selections.
Security
The device may be different, but the end product is the same: all ballot marking devices generate a paper ballot to ensure accountability and accuracy.
- Ballot Marking Devices are not connected to the Internet or any other network.
- Ballot Marking Devices do not count ballots. The devices only mark the ballots, and the counting is handled by a different system.
- Voters cannot use the Ballot Marking Device without inserting a blank paper ballot first.
- Voters can verify their choices by reading a summary of their selections in one of 13 languages printed directly onto their paper ballot.
You can also watch online LA Vote's Ballot Marking Device demonstration.
Vote Centers
LA County Voters used to cast their votes in one strictly assigned location on one single Election Day. Now, voters will be able to cast their votes at any of 1,100 locations as many as 11 days in advance of Election Day.
Your Vote Center
Learn more about UCLA’s Vote Centers by visiting our page on BruinsVOTE!
You can find your nearest vote center online by visiting LA Vote's vote center lookup tool.
Electronic Pollbooks
LA County Voters used to check in to their polling place by signing and verifying their information in large printed indexes called “pollbooks.” This year, voters will be able to check in to any Vote Center through an Electronic Pollbook system operated by an election official.
You can also watch the official Electronic Pollbook check-in process online.
Outcomes
By pioneering a voter-centered approach to design, Los Angeles County’s new voting system will maximize technology to make it easier to cast your vote and enrich your voter experience for today and tomorrow.
For more information on the new LA County voter experience, visit LA Vote's new voting experience page.