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The nation nears the 11th hour of the decisive 2020 Elections and while many have been concerned with issues that affect America, California, LA County, and indeed, South Pasadena, some gave their time to elaborate on their local voting experience during this nexus of political transformation.
In California alone, in-person and mail-in voter turnout has shattered records with similar statistics applying to other states and the country as a whole.
Early voting was made available to those who wished to vote in-person. With plenty of health and safety precautions in place — latex gloves, hand sanitizer, and facemasks galore — many found it easy and stress-free to walk in, fill out their ballot, and pick up their ‘I Voted’ stickers.
“It was positive, It was great,” says the Morello family, “They have it all dialed down with gloves, getting in and out.”
“I really liked how they had all these stations open, it was really convenient,” said multiple-time voter, Janey Lee, “And having multiple days to come is also helpful.”
With some voters refraining to divulge their political predilections, others were more than willing to express their affiliation. “Trump to go away,” responded resident Elizabeth Morello when asked what she hopes to see accomplished this time around, adamantly stating, “Vote.Him.Out.”
“I hope it’s a good change”, responded Kelly Yip while laughing about the national elections. While trying to strategically remain objective, she hopes the results will be “representative of the American people.” She also hopes “that we get to a more honest, open communication from government and to see folks from both parties willing to work with each other as opposed to everything being so politicized all the time. I just want to see more open dialogue.”
Another resident, William, however made his case that he “honestly, actually like(s), the direction it’s going” but if he could see one thing change, it would be term limits. “People can’t be in office their whole life. So a terminus, that’s huge.”
Dawneem Lorance made a quick trip from Pasadena to vote in town, living right at the border on Columbia St., she saw South Pasadena as the most convenient location; LA County had opened up voting facilities to all residents residing within. Lorance, who proclaimed she’s “not a fan of this administration”, saw the right to vote as not only essential, but crucial in effecting change, “it’s so hard to see that our democracy seems to be falling away. So I think we can take some of our power back by voting.”
Concerning local government, there was generally a voter consensus about wanting to see more transparency between officials and constituency. “Locally, I think you feel the the division; within the neighborhoods to just folks with different perspectives not really wanting to hear out the other side, and I think that that messaging from the top kind of trickles down,” says Yip, while ruminating on the current state at City Hall.
Lorance, as a resident of our neighbors to the north says, “I’m not unhappy with Pasadena. I think we’re doing pretty good.”
For William, locally he’d like to “see more accountability, more openness to the public, more transparency. There isn’t enough.” Though some may disagree on some issues and agree on others, it seemed that everyone stood by voting as a positive thing, as William emphasized “The vote does matter. It absolutely matters. Especially with the climate nowadays.”
Esteban Lopez contributed to this report
