DF:

I voted in Hollywood this morning, registered as a non-partisan but casting a ballot in the Democratic primary. I didn't have any trouble following the ballot instructions, which fairly clearly explained that non-partisan voters had to select the party primary they were voting in as well as the candidate. All the complaints I heard about this system were from people who failed to read the instructions clearly enough. Certainly the ballot could have been clearer; there doesn't seem to be any reason to require people to state the party primary they're voting in when their candidate choice makes that clear. But individuals should take this episode as yet another indication that if you want to make sure your vote counts, it's incumbent on you to carefully read all ballot instructions.

Posted by DF | February 5, 2008 3:16 PM

Mani:

I am a first time voter, naturalized American. I feel angry and disappointed with my voting experience today. I was asked if i like to declare my political affiliation and my answer was no without any explanations I was guided to vote, right after I voted on the state legislation reforms I realized that I can't vote for the presidential candidate. No one had informed me of this new law. I deeply feel extremely upset.

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

Sam:

This situation is asinine! The non-partisan ballot has a bubble that indicates the party of the candidate you are voting for, when the selection of the candidate makes their party designation perfectly clear. Why is there this need for a superfluous bubble in the first place??

The solution to this debacle seems so simple. Can't the state authorize the votes to be counted even without the party bubble punched? The fact that the vote was cast on a non-partisan ballot will distinguish the ballot from those of the Democratic party, which was the point of the inane bubble in the first place.

Posted by Sam | February 5, 2008 3:40 PM

Marino Pascal:

A non partisan voter asking for a Democratic ballot gets a Democratic ballot. There is no such thing as an "independent's Democratic ballot".

Therefore there is no way to distinguish the ballot of a registered democrat and a registered independent who voted democratic but did not fill out the party bubble.

In fact, I bet there were thousands of registered Democrats who filled the Democratic party bubble even though they shouldn't have. Are their votes going to be invalidated?

The only purpose of the party bubble is for the party to count how their members vs independents voted.

Disclaimer: These are my personal observations that I believe to be true but I could be wrong.

Posted by Marino Pascal | February 5, 2008 4:02 PM

Garbis (Gabe) Sahatjiam:

I have had such a horrible experience with getting this issue addressed.
I've contacted the Secretary of State, Elections Division (916-657-2166) to file a complaint regarding the circumstances.
I've called the [Candidate] Campaign and they too are well of the issue, and it makes me furious that it is going on !!!

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 included with 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.

As referenced,
The NON-PARTISAN ballots have NO option to select a party!!!
I have the ballot right in front of me.

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

Can we go in to a polling place and vote for our party/candidate even though we mailed in our ballots.

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

From what I heard, 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) Sahatjiam | February 5, 2008 4:27 PM

Kegan Clark:

When I called the LA Country registrar office I was told that even though I was given incorrect information as to how to fill out the ballot (this is the first time I've been of an age to vote in a primary)that the poll workers are under no obligation to give me any advice. Should I choose to accept their incorrect instructions, (the lady told me I did not need to mark a party on a NonPartisan ballot) it is my fault. After the women, I spoke with told me this, I was upset. While I understand the legal grounds for this, I do not think it is acceptable to have misinformed poll employees telling the public voting instructions that result in their votes becoming void. Perhaps the registrar isn't repsonsible, but SOMEONE is, and that person/group needs be have some oversight. I'm sick with anger that this happned to so many people.

Posted by Kegan Clark | February 5, 2008 5:21 PM

Mani:

I am a first time voter, naturalized American. I feel angry and disappointed with my voting experience today. I was asked if i like to declare my political affiliation and my answer was no without any explanations I was guided to vote, right after I voted on the state legislation reforms I realized that I can't vote for the presidential candidate. No one had informed me of this new law. I deeply feel extremely upset.

Posted by Mani | February 5, 2008 5:33 PM