Los Angeles City Councilman David Ryu, 4th District, introduced a motion on Aug. 26 instructing the city clerk to report on options to expand ballot drop-off centers for the November 2020 election.

The United States Postal Service, ahead of an election season in which a record number of mail-in ballots are expected to be cast, has made operational changes that could impact its ability to process mail quickly, Ryu said. The motion seeks to put ballot drop-off locations throughout the city where voters can safely deposit a mail-in ballot without relying on the USPS.

“Americans have fought and died to secure the right to vote, and we won’t let Donald Trump or his enablers take that away,” Ryu said. “California is fortunate to have universal mail-in voting, but during the COVID-19 pandemic and cuts at the USPS, we need to expand our resources to ensure every Angeleno can vote easily and safely.”

With COVID-19 still active, alternatives to in-person voting have become crucial to ensure everyone, including seniors and immuno-compromised people, can still cast their ballots, Ryu said.