The Orange County Registrar of Voters showed “substantial efforts” in helping a voter with special needs register and cast a ballot in the November election, Disability Rights California said.
The nonprofit group recognized the Registrar’s office with its inaugural Award for Outstanding Service to Voters with Disabilities this month, specifically highlighting the work of staffers Roxana Castro, Imelda Carrillo and Justin Berardino in aiding a voter.
“Our staff is committed to ensuring that all voters in Orange County have equal access to the election process,” Registrar Bob Page said. “We are honored to have been presented with this award.”
New to Orange County, one individual thought she had successfully updated her voter registration online, but did not realize until the evening before Election Day that she had skipped a step, according to Disability Rights California.
The person did not have the necessary technology at home to properly complete her voter registration, and her disability prevented her from leaving her house without assistance, which she lacked at the time.
Elections officials partnered with Disability Rights California to send someone to the person’s home and, with real-time phone assistance, helped her complete her voter registration and submit her ballot — on Election Day.
“Without the commitment, flexibility and creative thinking of these officials in the Orange County elections office, this voter would not have been able to vote in her new county of residence,” Disability Rights California said in announcing the award.
Claire Foster, a UC Irvine School of Law student and volunteer with Asian Americans Advancing Justice Southern California, was also presented with the award for her work in assisting the voter. She picked up election materials from a vote center and drove through rush-hour traffic to the voter’s home to help, the nonprofit said.
“She demonstrated flexibility and persistence in the face of numerous obstacles, and she managed to get back to the vote center to submit the voter’s ballot selections just before the vote center closed,” Disability Rights California officials said.
Charles Evans, a supervising attorney at Asian Americans Advancing Justice Southern California, was recognized as well for his help in the matter.
Other recipients this year include Phil Verbera, manager of community and voter outreach with the LA County Registrar-Recorder and County Clerk’s Office and the San Mateo County Registration & Elections Division.
In Orange County, more than 994,000 ballots were cast in the election last month, amounting to 54.7% voter turnout. The California secretary of state certified the general election results on Friday, Dec. 16.
