Concerns Arise Over Homeless Voter Registration in L.A.
In Los Angeles, reports have emerged revealing that many homeless individuals registered to vote at shelter addresses, even if they didn’t actually reside there or if the facilities lacked sufficient beds. This situation became more evident following Nithya Raman’s victory over Spencer Pratt in a recent mayoral election.
An interesting twist surfaced when it was disclosed that a drop-in center, which had received $600,000 in funding from the Socialist Party candidate, had 185 registered voters linked to its address, despite not providing accommodation.
U.S. Attorney Bill Esseri has announced plans to investigate these allegations and explore any potential legal violations. A review of records indicates that approximately 7,600 voters are affiliated with homeless shelters or service providers.
Among them is the St. Joseph Center in Venice, which shows 185 registered voters at its address. This center had received a significant amount of taxpayer funds from the Homelessness and Housing Commission during Raman’s chairmanship.
Last week, inquiries were sent to Raman’s campaign and the center regarding their connections, but no responses were received. Interestingly, the photograph of Raman handing over the check was later removed from the center’s website after those inquiries.
One homeless individual, Martin Rowe from Venice, mentioned that he registered to vote during an outreach event outside a local grocery store. “They asked you all kinds of questions. They gave you a paper,” he recalled.
At Midnight Mission on Skid Row, the highest concentration of homeless voters was noted, with 1,160 registered individuals. Yet, the organization’s website states there are only 84 beds for men and 36 for women, which raises further questions about the legitimacy of the registrations.
Norman, another homeless person on Skid Row, shared his experience of being involved in voter registration efforts. He claimed he had previously been compensated for assisting with registrations and mentioned instances where some individuals were offered cigarettes in exchange for their votes. “There was a big push,” he stated, adding, “They’re only doing it because we’re here.”
The methodology behind these registrations remains unclear, and while the details echo previous reports about similar activities, it’s uncertain if they are associated with any political campaign or voter registration group.
Interestingly, Bo Jackson, another individual registered to vote, said he couldn’t remember the registration process and was unaware of candidates in the recent mayoral race. Attempts to communicate with Midnight Mission staff about how ballots are managed yielded no response.
Public records analysis revealed hundreds of additional voters linked to supportive housing and affordable housing projects. Some areas noted a surge of about 200 registered voters in the days leading up to the registration deadline.
Significant numbers of registered voters were also spotted in various addiction treatment and crisis response service locations. More than 80 registered voters were traced to four designated facilities, while the investigation highlighted 313 voters connected to social services facilities across Los Angeles County.
Esseri emphasized that California’s system seems to lack necessary fraud prevention measures. “Dirty voter rolls and unregulated ballot harvesting create opportunities for fraud,” he remarked. He called for an audit of voter rolls to restore public trust.
Garrett Fahey, an attorney specializing in California election law, explained that the high number of registrations from shelters and service providers reflects how the state’s election system is designed. “This system is not set up to prevent people from voting,” he said, emphasizing that it allows broad access to registration.
Fahey further elaborated on how county election officials are not specifically tasked with verifying voter registration independently; they follow regulations established by state lawmakers and the secretary of state. He insisted that the dynamics leading to these registrations are the result of policy decisions rather than local election officials’ actions.
“If you’re dissatisfied with the system, don’t take it out on local officials,” Fahey advised. “Address your concerns to Sacramento, as they shape our laws.” California law permits individuals to designate someone else to submit their completed ballot, adding another layer of complexity to the situation.
