5-38/000.00 - Inmate Absentee Voting/Registration

PURPOSE OF ORDER: 

The purpose of this order is to establish procedures for inmate voting, by inmates processing through the Inmate Reception Center (IRC).

SCOPE OF ORDER:                                       

This order shall apply to all personnel assigned to and/or working in any capacity at IRC.

ORDER:

All inmates may request voting material during their incarceration, and while being processed at IRC.  Inmates shall be afforded the opportunity to request voting material for local, state, and federal elections, pursuant to the California Election Code and per the Custody Division Manual (CDM), Section 5-13/140.00, “Absentee Voting.”

Although incoming inmates at IRC are typically processed for housing in a short period of time, they may still request a “California Voter Registration Application” and/or a “California Vote-By-Mail Ballot Application.”  Inmates may request the forms by completing and Inmate Request Form (SH-J-420), or by calling the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk’s number provided on the posted signs.

Documentation:

Custody personnel responsible for handling the inmate voting requests shall make an entry into the respective location’s electronic Uniform Daily Activity Log (e-UDAL) when “California Voter Registration Application” and/or “California Vote-By-Mail Ballot Application” forms are requested and distributed to inmates.

Voting Qualifications:

Inmates inquiring if they are qualified to vote can be informed about the qualification criteria listed.  However, LASD personnel shall not use this as a reason to deny an inmate’s request to register vote.

• United States Citizen
• California Resident
• Eighteen (18) years of age or older on Election Day
• Not temporarily in County jail while sentenced to a state or  federal prison or on parole for the conviction of a felony; and
• Not currently found to be mentally incompetent by a court of law

In Addition to the above criteria, inmates may be eligible to vote if they are:

• Under “mandatory supervision” or “post release community supervision”; or
• Serving a sentence in County jail or on probation for a misdemeanor conviction.

Ordering Additional Voting Forms:

The IRC supply office shall ensure forms are requested through the Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk’s office and a sufficient supply is made available to custody personnel for inmates upon request at IRC.

“California Voter Registration Application” and “California Vote-By-Mail Ballot Application” forms can be obtained in quantity from:

The Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk

12400 E. Imperial Hwy. Room 3001
Norwalk, CA 90650
Phone: (562) 462-2362

Inmates who submit a “California Voter Registration” and/or “California Vote-By-Mail Ballot Application” form while processing through IRC will receive all following voting-related correspondence at their subsequent assigned housing location and shall be notified by custody personnel.  Any campaign literature, sample ballots or mail from the Registrar-Recorder addressed to inmates, shall be processed to the inmate’s current housing location without delay.   

Notification:

The “Vote-By-Mail Ballot” will be mailed to qualified inmates by the Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk’s office.  These ballots shall be completed, and sealed by the inmate.  The ballots shall not be reviewed by custody personnel.

The final determination for voting eligibility shall rest with the Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk.  Therefore, no inmate shall be refused an opportunity to receive voting material by custody personnel.