Good evening,
and thank you so much for joining us.
I'm Alex Bell, and this is to the point.
In the weeks leading up to the election,
ABC 10 has been out in the community
engaging with voters and potential voters,
giving them information on where and
how to participate in the elections
and asking people what barriers or
concerns might keep them from voting.
And while talking with some people
at North Sacramento's Hagginwood
Community Association last month,
we heard that some voters
found a lack of parking.
Could be a barrier at
their local voting center.
So Becca Habegger, she went and
checked it out.
Ohh come on in which one? This one here.
And how about an
I voted sticker for
the better part of a decade?
Candice Hampton, you're welcome,
is overseeing the vote center at
the Greater Sacramento Urban League
in North Sacramento's Del Paso
Heights community. I just think
that it's important for people's
voices to be heard. Why wouldn't
you vote if that's the right that
you have? Voter karelina Austin agrees.
Having this polling place within
walking distance is so important to
people because a lot of times small
things can keep people from exercising
their vote and access. Is essential,
and research supports that,
says Mindy Romero, director of the
Center for Inclusive Democracy at USC's
Price School of Public Policy Polling
places vote centers in person.
Opportunities to vote are
really important for everyone,
but particularly for historically
underrepresented groups.
ABC 10 heard from people who live near
the greater Sacramento Urban League
and say they have trouble finding
parking here when trying to vote.
I'll admit, when I tried finding
parking here, I had some trouble.
Unless there's street parking open,
you have to drive down the block to this lot.
If you don't immediately see Urban
League on the no trespassing sign,
it can be confusing as to whether
you're allowed to park here.
So you're just going to take
it over to the paint box.
So I took that concern to the
league's President and CEO,
Dwayne Crenshaw.
Well, we have additional signage out.
We'll be putting more signage out.
We've heard the concern.
We're open to that.
But we do have a parking lot,
25 spots on the corner of Marysville Blvd.
And Roanoke and so again.
What we're doing increase the signage.
We really want people to have easy access,
he points out. The vote center here
is accessible in other ways, too.
We're on a major bus line
here on Marysville Blvd.
We have drive up voting outside.
Romero says elections officials
are required to consider
parking availability when
choosing boat center locations.
So it's recognized at a
state level and amongst
advocates and community groups,
period, that parking can be a barrier.
So we want to highlight here that the
greater Sacramento Urban League parking
lot is just a short walk from the building
and open to anyone coming to vote.
Look, somebody sacrificed so
you could come out and vote.
Please exercise your vote.
Thank you so much.
Let your voice be heard.
That's right, let your voice be heard,
alright? Because you're with us now
and if people do run into any issues at
a polling place like finding parking,
there are other options, right? Right. It's
important to know that if you live in
Sacramento County, you can go to any
vote center within the county,
not just the one closest to you,
and they will find, you know,
your address and the right precinct for you
because they put your name into the system.
Also, you know if you have
filled out that pink ballot,
you can drop that off at any U.S.
Postal Service post office.
It just needs to be
postmarked by Election Day,
so make sure you're there before.
Closing time on Election Day.
Remember, the polls closed
tomorrow at 8:00 PM post offices
might close a little bit early,
but you can bring it to a post office if
parking is tough at your local voting site.
And then finally,
vote centers do offer curbside voting.
So, you know,
I know here in Sacramento County,
folks can pull up to the vote center.
There will be a placard or not a placard,
but, you know, a sandwich sign,
there's little sign.
Yeah,
with the the phone number on it.
You can give that a call and
they'll come out and assist
you in voting curbside.
And Target says it feels like
target when you pull up. Exactly.
On your number you voted today.
Ohh, I did. How was that for you?
I I saved this sticker for the moment.
Let me not get my hair. Cut it.
I voted today. It was super easy.
I walked right in.
I wanted to go today because I feel
like tomorrow be a little crazy.
But I went in.
Me and our photojournalist Xavier.
We went in and it was super easy.
Yeah, it was great.
Meanwhile, me I'm waiting for tomorrow
morning so it will be super busy.
So Becca's late. We know why.
Yeah. Alright. Becca, thank you.