Buying Time for L.A. County Voters

Not a moment too soon, Gov. Pete Wilson has extended the voter registration deadline for residents of Los Angeles County. The deadline, which was to have been Monday at midnight, has been extended to 5 p.m. Friday. Those few days will make a big difference for residents of a city ravaged by violence and cooped up by curfews.

Secretary of State March Fong Eu and Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder Chuck Weissburd requested the extension, which Wilson granted under his emergency powers, invoked after the riots erupted last week.

The extension is crucial. It will allow many voters all over the county to still register for the June 2 election. That election includes the selection of some county supervisors, the district attorney, key judicial races and ballot measures, including Charter Amendment F on the L.A. city ballot. During this time of turmoil, the exercise of the ballot becomes a key, constructive way that voters can voice their opinions about government.

Voter registration, typically done at post offices or outside supermarkets, remains too cumbersome.

Registration could be routinely done when a person renewed his or her driver’s license. Under various sensible proposals, in no case would any person be forced to register to vote; one could simply decline to register by checking off a box on the form. But such a procedure would make it a lot more convenient for those who want to register, and thus could increase participation in the system.

But for now, this extended opportunity for voter registration is welcome and needed. Now, let’s see the people of Los Angeles County take advantage of the extra time and register to vote.