Elections across Los Angeles County, including in Santa Monica, are faced with fighting a culture of rampant election disinformation each cycle.
With the 2024 election just 13 days away, the hotly-contested Presidential race has upped the ante of questioning election safety, with local officials attempting to assuage any concerns in the lead-up. In her third election here in Santa Monica and first as City Clerk, Nikima Newsome says the main Election Day priority is "electioneering," or campaigning within 100 feet of a voting center.
A misdemeanor under the California Elections Code, electioneering is defined as either soliciting a vote, speaking to a voter on the subject of marking the voter’s ballot, placing a sign relating to voters’ qualifications, or circulating a petition.
"We’ll just be advising," Newsome said of the Clerk’s office role alongside the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk (RR/CC)’s office on Election Day. "We’ve heard some information about maybe [electioneering] happened a couple of years ago, and so we’re just trying to remind people, no electioneering within that 100-foot radius of the vote center."
Per the RR/CC office’s vote center reference guide, other prohibited election activities fall under the categories of "interfering with an election official or the election process," intimidating voters and bribing in exchange for a ballot cast. Interference with election officials and process includes corruption of the voting process (preventing the election from being fairly held and lawfully conducted), tampering with voting systems, and falsely acting as an elections official.
Intimidation of voters is defined as "use of any force, violence, or tactic of coercion or intimidation to induce or compel any other person to vote or refrain from voting at any election or in any particular way," and is a felony under the Penal Code with punishment by imprisonment up to three years.
Newsome noted that the City Clerk’s office has been working with the Santa Monica Police Department and Office of Emergency Management "keeping the ear to the ground," but hasn’t heard of any planned interference.
"I haven’t had any issues in the past," Newsome said. "Sometimes we might get a phone call about it, [but] by the time we go out to check it out, it’s either over or maybe it didn’t actually occur. I can’t think of a time in Santa Monica that I’ve actually seen this occur. I’ve had heard after the fact certain things, but I have not actually received phone calls or heard in the past two elections that I’ve been here."
For its part, SMPD Lieutenant Erika Aklufi stated that the department’s Planning and Intelligence Team is delivering specialized training to patrol officers "to ensure they are well-equipped for Election Day," including comprehensive lists of polling locations and ballot boxes that are "essential for situational awareness and maintaining the peace."
"As Election Day approaches, the SMPD’s focus remains on being prepared, vigilant and collaborative," Aklufi added. "By working with community partners, conducting regular assessments, and providing ongoing training to our officers, we aim to create an environment where every voter feels secure and empowered to participate in the democratic process."
Along with local offices, Newsome added that the "first line of defense" on Election Day are voting center supervisors facilitated by the County.
With the first voting center location set to open Saturday in the SMI Room at the Civic Center Parking Structure, Newsome says her role at the moment is "reminding people to get out the vote." On November 2, six other vote center locations will open at:
- Joslyn Park Rec Building Community Room
- Lincoln Middle School Theatre and Lobby
- Marine Park Auditorium
- Rustic Canyon Recreation Center Gallery
- Santa Monica College Cayton Center Building Faculty Lounge
- Washington Preschool Multi-Purpose Room
Other pre-election roles for the Clerk’s office include facilitating calls about the legality of election sign placement and the need for disclaimers on certain political advertising material. Up to and through Election Day, though, the office is committed to alleviating any fears about election interference.
"It’s kind of hard because people are going to believe what they want to believe, and unfortunately there’s a lot of disinformation, misinformation out there," Newsome said. "I just encourage [voters] to reach out to our office if they have any questions or concerns."
thomas@smdp.com
