SANTA ANA, Calif. -- Shoppers here can choose their president in between visits to the Gap, Cinnabon and Victoria's Secret.
Voting kiosks installed at six Orange County malls will allow registered voters to cast ballots electronically while they shop, according to a news release.
Voting in the March primary election started Tuesday at malls in Brea, Buena Park, Irvine, Santa Ana, Mission Viejo and Westminster. Registrar Steve Rodermund said the kiosks are designed to increase voter turnout by bringing the polling place to the voters.
Election workers at kiosks will check voters' signatures to make sure they match signatures on registration forms, Rodermund said in the release. He said the voting process will be secure.
Mark Petracca, a political science professor at University of California, said the move could increase voter participation.
"This could be a way to appeal to younger people to vote," Petracca said. "Let's face it, younger people spend a lot of time at the malls."
