Light voter turnout predicted today

SACRAMENTO
May 19, 2009 4:58am

Just 17.1 million Californians, out of a total population of 38 million, are registered to vote in today’s special election.

But far fewer are expected to cast ballots. Both of California’s major nonpartisan polls – by the Public Policy Institute of California and the Field Poll – predict five of the six ballot measures will be defeated.

If Propositions 1B, 1C and 1D – all related to the state’s budget -- were to be approved, the state’s budget deficit would be “only” $15.4 billion. If they fail, it will balloon to $21.3 billion.

Heading into the May 19 statewide special election, California had more than 17.1 million registered voters, down from the all-time registration high of 17.3 million achieved after last November’s historic presidential election, according to figures from Secretary of State Debra Bowen.

The numbers reflect updates to voter registration rolls, including the removal of people who have passed away, moved out of state, or have been determined to be ineligible to vote, as well as the addition of new voters.

The percentage of people who are eligible to vote and are registered now stands at 73.4%, compared to 70.7% in November 2005, when California had its last statewide special election. The state has gained more than one million voters since then.

“I wish the registration numbers were still climbing, but it’s hard to maintain the excitement associated with November’s historic presidential election,” says Ms. Bowen, the state’s chief elections officer.

Overall, more than 44% of California voters are registered Democrats and about 31% are Republicans. Twenty percent of registered voters do not affiliate with any political party.

Public and private employers in California are required by law to provide their employees with time off to vote today.

“California’s time-off-to-vote law ensures that people with non-traditional work schedules are able to cast their ballots on Election Day,” says Ms. Bowen.

The California Elections Code allows workers up to two hours off, without a loss of pay, to vote if they do not have enough time to do so in their non-work hours. The law requires workers to give their employers two working days’ notice before the election if they will need to take time off to vote.

Polling places will be open between 7:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. today.