Nationally, this year’s election has been characterized as a fight for democracy's survival, but there are plenty of high stakes issues locally, as well. Bitter battles are being fought up and down the ticket over everything from property taxes and dialysis clinics to Uber drivers and rent control, prompting Southern Californians to vote as if their lives depend on it.
And they are. As of Sunday night, almost 3 million people had already cast their ballots in Los Angeles County, ratcheting up the turnout to 51% so far. While voters have until 8 p.m. Tuesday to vote, it’s a waiting game to find out the results, which, in a typical year, are often announced on Election Night. With 2020 being anything but normal, we asked Southern Californians what they plan to do tomorrow as their votes are tallied.
Camping
Having cast their ballots via the L.A. County drop box outside the Highland Park branch of the Los Angeles Public Library Monday morning, Amy and Will Lamarra are planning to get out of town.
“I honestly don't want to sit there and feel like I need to watch every second of it because I feel like it could take a while,” said Amy Lamarra. "We're thinking about going camping."
Nevermind that Election Day is a Tuesday. With the couple’s two children distance learning through Zoom, the Lamarras plan on taking the day off and spending the night in Joshua Tree “just because things are crazy out of control, and I’d rather be away from the chaos,” Will Lamarra said.
Praying
Being part of a multi-faith, multi-racial organization called L.A. Voice, Reverend Zachary Hoover plans to spend Election Day fasting as a form of prayer, as well as calling voters in support of various ballot measures.
“Then, around 8, we’ll get on Zoom with a bunch of our grass-roots folks from across the county and just check in, say a prayer, talk to each other about how we’re feeling,” said Hoover, a community organizer who believes “we have responsibilities to care for each other, no matter our race.”
He said his wife will have the TV on, but he doesn’t plan to monitor it closely “because you can get obsessive about it. There’s only so much in my control, and I try to stay focused on that. I have hopes, but whichever candidate in the presidential race people are voting for, either way there’s going to be hard work to do.”
Staying Safe
A stroke survivor with high blood pressure who gets dialysis treatments three times a week, Frankie Grant is at high risk for COVID and plans to stay home Election Night.
“I just plan to pay my rent and stay safe,” he said. “A lot of people are not wearing masks. They’re not playing it safe. I just hope people do the right thing and vote and make this country more stronger like it was,” said Grant, who plans to spend Tuesday night at his home in Highland Park watching CNN.
“I’ll be listening to it and hoping everything goes around because it’s scary. It’s really scary. We’ve got to make this country better.”
Raul Aguilar also plans to stay in. “I don’t really want to be on the streets at all,” he said. “I just stay home and wait to see what’s gonna be the results from the election.”
The owner of Garvanza Hardware store will be getting those results on the Spanish language TV channel, Univision 34. “I’m excited to see if there’s gonna be any changes or if it’s gonna be the same thing,” said Aguilar, who, as a small business owner, is especially concerned about Propositions 15 and 21, either of which could increase his rent and “be a disaster” if they pass, he said.
Avoiding
Elizabeth Wu has already voted. And while she said “I’m pretty invested in who I hope wins, I’m a little fearful of what’s going to happen if they don’t. There’s such tension,” said Wu, who was visiting a playground with her two elementary-school age kids for the first time since March on Monday.
A resident of South Pasadena, she cited a recent local rally in favor of President Trump that resulted in a teenage girl being thrown to the ground. “It’s not normal for that kind of stuff to happen here. It just feels like there’s high tensions.”
On Tuesday, “I’m going to try to avoid the news as much as possible because I don’t want to get caught up in the speculation,” Wu said. “It will just stress me out, so I have a normal work day. They have swimming. We’ll just try and keep stuff pretty normal.”