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VOL. 24. NO.3 OCTOBER 7, 2003

Vote today in historic recall election

BY KEITH PARKER

Today, citizens across California will go to the polls to vote in an unprecedented gubernatorial recall election. Make the time to become one of those voters.

Because of recent court action and the unusual nature of this election, some people may be confused about the rules of this election. Remember that regardless of how you vote on the recall, you may still cast a vote for a replacement, should the governor be recalled.

Here are some other tips from the Secretary of State’s office:

Mark only one choice for each question on the ballot. There are four questions on the ballot: (1) whether to recall the governor, (2) whom to select as a replacement candidate, (3) Proposition 53 and (4) Proposition 54.

Be an informed voter. Know the ballot issues, and check your sample ballot to find out where your polling place is located and to determine the order of replacement candidates so you can find your choice quickly.

Use the Secretary of State’s myvotecounts.org Web site. This is a one-stop site for voters’ needs. There is a Spanish language version at www.mivotocuenta.org.

Because the special election rules required that the recall be held within 80 days, county registrars had less than three months to prepare and they consolidated polling places. In Los Angeles County, some 4,900 regular precincts have been compressed into 1,786. Be sure to check the sample ballot you received in the mail to find your correct polling place. If you don’t have a sample ballot, the L.A. County Registrar of Voters has an online polling-place locator at: http://polling2.co.la.ca.us/locator.

Remember, polls are open in California until 8 p.m. If you are in line by 8 p.m., you must be allowed to vote. If you have an absentee ballot, but have not mailed it, you can drop it off today at any polling place. If you requested an absentee ballot, but never received one, you can still vote. Simply go to your polling place, explain your situation to a poll worker and request a provisional ballot.

There has been much discussion about punch card voting in California. Los Angeles County uses punch card machines, but there are steps you can take to make sure your vote is counted. First, be sure to vote for only one candidate for governor (not one per page, or one from each party). Second, when you’ve finished voting, check your punch card for “hanging chads” or other errors. If you feel there is an error, you have the right to request and receive a new ballot, and have your old one destroyed.

Finally, it is very unusual for the University of California Board of Regents to take positions on ballot measures. In the last 25 years, only nine ballot measures other than those for education facilities bond acts have come before the regents. However, due to its potential impact on the university’s ability to conduct basic and policy-related research, the regents have voted to oppose Proposition 54. For more information about the regents’ decision, please visit the UC Web site at www.universityofcalifornia.edu/news/oct03election.html.

The right to vote is the cornerstone of American democracy. Regardless of your political affiliation or views about the recall, please be sure to vote and make your voice heard.

Parker is assistant vice chancellor for UCLA Government and Community Relations.