Philip Owens:

Yes, this happened to me - I am a Decline to State voter, and wasn't informed of the extra detail of the 'box' I had to check. I've been disenfranchised, which is pretty annoying.

Posted by Philip Owens | February 5, 2008 2:17 PM

Kimberly Van Auken:

I voted this morning at the Carlin G. Smith Recreation Center in the Mount Washington neighborhood of Los Angeles.

I'm a nonpartisan voter and unfortunately did not receive instructions about marking the cross-over bubble at the top of the ballot.

Now, my Presdiential primary vote, as I understand it, will not count and I am deeply disappointed by this.

I'm trying to contact the polling station to see if this can be remedied in any way, but have had no luck so far.

Posted by Kimberly Van Auken | February 5, 2008 2:19 PM

Rita:

I hear that decline to state voters have to mark a bubble indicating they wish to vote Democrat, for their vote in the Democratic primary to count. Is this true of ballots in San Bernardino County as well? I voted this morning and did not see such a bubble in the ballot I was give.

Posted by Rita | February 5, 2008 2:25 PM

Donna Colomby:

I know a non-partisan voter who voted by mail last week. He mailed his ballot in. Today, at his polling location he asked for another ballot because he hadn't realized that he could vote for a democratic candidate. Although he had already cast his ballot via the mail, he was given another ballot. He didn't vote again on the other issues, he just voted for a presidential candidate. Will his ballot count?

Posted by Donna Colomby | February 5, 2008 2:28 PM

Dug :

I am outraged because I found out from the conversation on KPCC, that my vote will not count. I went to my polling place at So. Cal. Presbyterian Homes in Glendale. Yes I was a nonpartisan voter; I was told to go to a Democratic booth; I was not informed by the poll workers that I needed to choose the Democratic bubble, and I frankly don't even remember seeing it on the ballot.

I called the LA County registrar to report this to them; they kept recycling the prerecorded menu. I then called the Sec'y of State; the person said that she didn't think there was a problem but I would need to refer to the County. I voted for [candidate] today; but it will not count. I just can't believe it!!!

Posted by Dug | February 5, 2008 2:29 PM

Michael Fernandez:

I am a decline-to-state voter in Los Angeles country. This morning, I requested a democratic ballot and cast my vote. When I heard that it was necessary to check a bubble reaffirming that I was voting on the Democratic ticket, I drove back to my polling station in Echo Park. I did not see this bubble and was not informed of this necessity by poll workers. I was told that there is no recourse at this point. I politely but firmly told them that they should explain this to the many d-t-s voters that they will be encountering today. I am infuriated at the idea that my vote may not count. My intent, and that of the many thousands of voters I expect are sharing this experience, is clear. I don't know what sort of legal brouhaha this will result in, but this sort of nonsense is not good for our republic.

Posted by Michael Fernandez | February 5, 2008 2:33 PM

Martin Montague:

I just found out that my vote will not count due to the extra bubble. I have filed a complaint with the Cal Sec State office.

Posted by Martin Montague | February 5, 2008 2:39 PM

Nicholas:

I am a decline-to-state voter who voted with a Provisional ballot because the registration information they had on file was not correct, and I did select the Democratic Party bubble, in addition to choosing a Democratic candidate, however they issued me a Nonpartisan Ballot. Will my vote count because I voted with a Nonpartison ballot for a Dem and checked the bubble? What is the day of election recourse available to me?

Posted by Nicholas | February 5, 2008 2:48 PM

WylieD:

This morning I voted in LA County as a decline-to-state voter.

I was given a nonpartisan ballot. The poll workers gave me no instructions. I went to a booth for Democrats.

The ballot instructions were very clear about the need to mark the Democrat bubble.

The sample ballots sent out to voters weeks ago show exactly the same.

Why are so many Democratic voters so clueless? ("Clueless" is the kindest label I can think of.)

This is great! This is political Darwinian evolution at work: candidates with clueless backers end up as dinosaurs.

Posted by WylieD | February 5, 2008 2:49 PM

Talley Whang:

I just voted as a decline-to-state voter in North Alhambra. I'm fortunate that I was listening to Pat Morrison's show on the way to the polling place, because I wouldn't have known about the extra bubble. The poll workers were completely ignorant about it- they did not know what I was talking about when I mentioned this infamous bubble. They said, "We don't care what you heard on the media, it wasn't in the training material." It shocked me that they didn't even want to hear/learn about it. Should they have heard about it by now??

Posted by Talley Whang | February 5, 2008 2:51 PM

Gina C.:

I too am a declined to state voter in LA County. This morning, I requested a democratic ballot and voted for [Candidate]. I did not receive any special instructions about a special box I was supposed to select and I can't figure out where that would've been. I will be be furious if my vote does not count! I'm so upset.

I'll keep listening to KPCC; thanks for keeping us all informed!

Posted by Gina C. | February 5, 2008 2:52 PM

Elizabeth:

I voted in Inglewood this morning and though I'm registered Democrat I was given a ballot with the "optional" option to identify myself as a Democrat or American Independent. I did not, as I already am registered as the former, but I'm worried that since I was obviously given a ballot for non-partisan voters and I did not choose either part catergory that my vote will not be counted. I'm furious at the systematic undermining of voters that is going on here and has been since at least 2000.

Posted by Elizabeth | February 5, 2008 2:52 PM

Martin Montague:

I just found out that my vote will not count due to the extra bubble. I have filed a complaint with the Cal Sec State office.

Posted by Martin Montague | February 5, 2008 2:54 PM

Kegan Clark:

I am a first time voter, who voted for [Candidate]. I asked the assistants at my polling place (Fellowship Hall Culver City Church of God 3998 Centinela AV.) how to correctly fill out the ballot. I was given a NonPartisan ballot, because I declined to state my party when I registered. The lady I spoke with told me I did not need to fill out the bubble at the top which indicated I was voting for a democratic candidate, so I did not.

Later when I head of this issue on the radio, I called the LA County Voting Registrar (1 800 815 2666) and was told that the poll workers were under no obligation to correctly instruct me as to how to fill out the ballot, even if I asked. The fact that they informed me incorrectly doesn't matter. My vote doesn't count. I need to know who to blame, and who in the [Candidate] campaign I need to contact to join in any and all legal efforts. Considering the widespread nature of this problem I think it would be voter supression if these votes weren't counted because poll workers (who are legally barred from offering any kind of advice to voters)were missinforming people on a mass scale.

Posted by Kegan Clark | February 5, 2008 2:54 PM

Julie Chouinard:

I am a registered Democrat, and all this talk about the bubble has me concerned that my vote on a Democratic ballot will somehow not count, as I DID punch the bubble on top of the Presidential choices that was marked "Democrat", which I understand now was only to be marked by the non-partisan voters. If the ballots are not traceable to the specific voter, why would this choice even need to be on there in the first place? If a non-partisan voter asks for a Democratic ballot it is because they are planning to vote for a Democratic presidential nominee. Is it me, or this not simple common sense?

Posted by Julie Chouinard | February 5, 2008 2:58 PM

Bill:

After I returned home from voting, I turned on KPCC and discovered that my vote for the Democratic Presidential nominee will not count. Although I have been voting for 40 years, I recently switched to "decline to state." The poll workers noted that my previously stated party was still on their listings, but they agreed to allow me to vote "Democratic" on the nonpartisan ballot since I had proof of my re-registration, including the non-partisan ballot. They gave me the ballot and directed me to the "Dem" booth. They did not warn me about the special bubble and I had not seen this ballot before. Admittedly, I should have read the first question, but I ignored it since I was so focused on voting my preference. I returned to the polling place later but was told it was too late to change it. The poll worker said he had not been instructed on the the bubble requirement. He told me to call the Registrar's office. I did and was told that my vote would count. Now KPCC says it won't.

It would seem logical to me that a minor program change by the Registrar's office would fix this oversight for those who were confused by this specific and unusual voting situation. Someone needs to fix this if they want voters to have any credibility in the polling process. Remember Florida in 2004? Please no more "elections" by judges, even the Supreme Court.

Posted by Bill | February 5, 2008 3:00 PM

Dennis M.:

After seeing I was non-partisan, the volunteer asked me if I wanted to vote Democratic and I replied yes. There was no mention of a "bubble". I have voted non-partisan for over 30 years and there was never a "bubble", so I didn't think to look for one. I am disappointed that my vote will not count. Didn't something like this happen in Florida during the last election? My polling place is in Silver Lake.

Posted by Dennis M. | February 5, 2008 3:04 PM

Carlos Quezada:

I went to vote this afternoon in San Bernardino and I was dissapointed that i couldn't vote for a presidential canadate. I was a decline to state and I heard on KPCC that there are some poll workers who are not well trained and confused aswell....I want my Vote to make a difference is there anything that I can do to vote????????????

Posted by Carlos Quezada | February 5, 2008 3:06 PM

Lauren :

I am also a dts voter. When I asked for a Democratic ballot, the poll workers at my precinct in Westchester did NOT tell me that I had to mark the extra bubble.

Fortunately I closely read the instructions on the ballot (flip-pages attached to the booth). I noticed that I had to fill in an extra bubble as a dts voter before I filled in the bubble for my candidate. However, I had to read the instructions several times before I understood. If I am issued a Democratic ballot, why do I also have to indicate (through the bubble) that I'm dts?

I am a highly educated person yet was confused about having to do this. Why was I confused? Well, in none of the election material I received did I see instructions about having to do this. Furthermore, the poll workers said nothing.

One question: If a dts voter requests, for example, a Democratic ballot and casts a vote for a candidate, how will the bean-counters know if a Democratic ballot was filled out by a dts voter (and therefore must have the extra bubble marked)? I thought that there was no connection between the individual voter and the ballot that voter cast EXCEPT for the stub that the voter takes with her, right? I can't figure this out. (So much for being highly educated!)

Or should I have been given a nonpartisan ballot instead of a Democratic ballot since I'm dts? My understanding from election material is that a dts who wants to vote Democrat or Independent is supposed to be given that party's ballot, NOT a nonpartisan ballot. Help! Please explain.

Posted by Lauren | February 5, 2008 3:08 PM

cd:

Given all the ballot troubles we've had in the last few years, why would you cast a vote without reading the ballot? This box is the very first box on the ballot. Although I was not told to mark it, it was obvious that I needed to. I don't mean to sound holier than thou, I'm just trying to make the point to BE CAREFUL.

Posted by cd | February 5, 2008 3:09 PM

Andy:

I had no idea about this bubble and had researched the ballot extensively. My two colleagues who are also registered DTS missed it too. Hillary is claiming there is no confusion at all but Obama has sent out an urgent alert.

What gives?

Bowen better get it straight by November 4!

Posted by Andy | February 5, 2008 3:17 PM

Tom:

I'm registered as non-partisan and had no problem using the Democratic ballot this morning. I followed the instructions that are clearly stated on the sample ballot as well as at lavote.net. I also received one of those recorded message from Bradley Whitford last night very specifically explaining what I needed to do in order to get the correct ballot.

Ironically, the poll workers were unsure if the rules.

Posted by Tom | February 5, 2008 3:34 PM

Brian:

Got burned by this one too. KPCC please keep repeating the PSA about this issue on the air!

Posted by Brian | February 5, 2008 3:38 PM

Tammy:

I am a nonpartisan voter. During the last election, the poll worker at my polling place (LA County Arboretum) refused to give me a ballot to cast for the govenor's race. I stood my ground, showed them my sample ballot, which specified my voting privileges as a nonpartisan voter. After much heated discussion, where the poll workers repeatedly mumbled, "This wasn't in the training...", I was finally allowed to vote. The voters who did not mark the bubble today obviously did not read the instructions in their sample ballot. It's all there. Poll workers are only that--workers. It's ultimately the voter's responsibility to check the ballot, read the instructions and check it again before turning it in. Incidentally, voting this morning went smoothly; I was asked if I wanted to vote in the democratic primary, it was noted in writing, and confirmed by the next worker. I was not given, nor did I expect any further instructions as I went to cast my ballot.

Posted by Tammy | February 5, 2008 3:41 PM

Linda:

I too had heard Pat Morrison's announcement, so I asked the poll worker when I went to vote. He hadn't heard about it, and no one had called to inform him. This was at the Alpha Gamma Omega Fraternity, at 515 Landfair in Westwood. Is there some way these workers can get the message from someone in charge? I hope I'm not smelling Florida.

Posted by Linda | February 5, 2008 4:42 PM

Rose:

I am a registered Democrat and had filled out and sealed my absentee ballot in January, but waited until today to submit it. I filled out the "democratic party" bubble. On the way to my polling place, I heard about the controversy and that some polling staffers had told some registered democrats that their votes would not count if they DID fill in the bubble. I tried to call the voter information hotlines, but they were all busy. I went in and asked everyone working at the polling station (Marina del Rey), and no one knew about the issue at all and had no help for me. They advised me to tear my absentee ballot out of the envelope, insert it into the machine, and see if the green light came on. I did this and the green light came on, but I am not sure that this indicated that my candidate vote will be counted. What is the official word on this issue?

Posted by Rose | February 5, 2008 4:51 PM

Garbis (Gabe) Sahatjian:

I have had such a horrible experience with this primary election
I've contacted the Secretary of State, Elections Division (916-657-2166) to file a complaint regarding the circumstances; and I suggest that all voters who have had the same/similar experience to do the same.

I've also called Campaign Headquarters and they too are well of the issue, and it makes me furious that it is going on!!!

The Problem....

I am registered as a Non-Partisan.
The ballot I received (via mail) had no option to bubble in for the party/candidate I wanted to crossover to or select.

There was a sample instruction on how to bubble in, but as indicated, there was no page in the ballot that included the party or candidates in the ballot.
I called the Registrars Office and they too are aware of the issue, but had no solution.

I just heard over the radio (Paul Drugen) Director Media Relation for the L.A. County Registrars Office comment on the problem,
But he provided mis-information on the radio indicating that the ballots had the option.
Was he referring to the mailed ballots, because I have mine ballot right in front of me, and no where in the ballot does it have the option to select a party/candidate.

As referenced,
The NON-PARTISAN ballots have NO option to select a party!!!

Can someone please reply, inquire, and provide some information to this issue?

The only option on the NON-PARTISAN ballots was the state measures.

From what I understand there are over 700,000 NON-PARTISAN/Decline to State voters whose votes will not be counted resulting from this problem.

Can this really be happening??

Posted by Garbis (Gabe) Sahatjian | February 5, 2008 9:17 PM

David Nelson:

I too am a NP voter. I wasn't aware of the extra bubble issue until I opened the LA Times this morning.

Luckily, it wasn't an issue for me since I used a Democratic ballot and not the NP one. I wouldn't have known about this option if Bradley Whitford (actor from West Wing) hadn't called the night before to tell me. I kindof feel bad now that I screamed at his recording voice on the phone to "Stop calling me!" (I was getting about 1 call every 30 minutes that was just a pre-recorded political message. And on that note, why doesn't the Do Not Call list work?)

Posted by David Nelson | February 7, 2008 8:22 AM