LA County jail inmates given opportunity to vote in midterm elections

LOS ANGELES (CNS) -The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department announced today it has taken several steps to allow inmates at several detention facilities to vote in Tuesday's midterm elections.

Inmate registration began Sept. 2. The Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk's office helped prepare voting posters, flyers and registration forms.   

The forms were delivered Sept. 17-18 to the kitchens at the Central Regional Detention Facility, North County Correctional Facility, Men's Central Jail and Twin Towers Correctional Facility and included in inmate meal deliveries.

Eligible inmates registered to vote on multiple floors at Men's Central Jail from Sept. 22-25. Inmates at the North County Correctional Facility also submitted registration forms.

All completed forms went to the Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk's office for processing on Sept. 25.

Voting booths opened at Men's Central Jail, Central Regional Detention Facility and North County Correctional Facility on Oct. 26. Personnel from the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk's office staffed the booths on designated days.

Community Transition Unit staff escorted Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk's office personnel through the facilities so eligible inmates could access the booths and cast ballots.  

Sheriff's officials said mail-in ballots were also collected during this period, allowing eligible inmates to vote by mail or in person.