Spring Break
Little excitement at state capitol; problems from primaries resolved
Allie Figures
Issue date: 11/5/08 Section: News
SACRAMENTO - The Secretary of State's Office was without excitement as state election administrators breezed through Election Day effortlessly compared with the difficulty that arose last February during the Primary election.
"This time we were more prepared," said California Secretary of State Debra Bowen. "I am glad we did not have some of the other problems encountered in other states."
In February, California voting locations ran out of ballots and decline-to-state voters were turned away, according to a Spartan Daily report.
On Tuesday, the office received more than 18,000 phone calls regarding the election with only a few expressing complaints, said representatives for Debra Bowen. The complaints focused on the voting process and slow access to the office's Web site.
"We had one call about long lines and access to the online results," Bowen said, "but other than that, the process has been very smooth."
The seamless process is partially attributed to early voters, said Bowen, who anticipates California to have the highest number of votes-by-mail.
Bowen said the early turnout for voters was high, and voters have displayed "tremendous enthusiasm."
"I like the current voting system we have, but voting by mail is a popular, new and convenient option," she said. "The good thing about early voting is that no one is disenfranchised by an administrative error."
Since the polls closed at 8 p.m., the office awaited anticipated results on specific propositions 1A, 4, 8 and 12 with Bay Area precincts of more particular interest than other Northern California precincts.
By 2.30 a.m., 50.2 percent of California voting precincts had partially or fully reported certified votes to the office, the Secretary of State's office reported. Results from Santa Clara County, the county registrar reported, were at about 50 percent reported by midnight.
Passing was Proposition 1A, which will provide funding for a high-speed train system in California, winning with 52.3 percent as of 2:30 a.m. on Wednesday. Santa Clara County voters approved of it, lending 60 percent of the county's votes in support.
"This time we were more prepared," said California Secretary of State Debra Bowen. "I am glad we did not have some of the other problems encountered in other states."
In February, California voting locations ran out of ballots and decline-to-state voters were turned away, according to a Spartan Daily report.
On Tuesday, the office received more than 18,000 phone calls regarding the election with only a few expressing complaints, said representatives for Debra Bowen. The complaints focused on the voting process and slow access to the office's Web site.
"We had one call about long lines and access to the online results," Bowen said, "but other than that, the process has been very smooth."
The seamless process is partially attributed to early voters, said Bowen, who anticipates California to have the highest number of votes-by-mail.
Bowen said the early turnout for voters was high, and voters have displayed "tremendous enthusiasm."
"I like the current voting system we have, but voting by mail is a popular, new and convenient option," she said. "The good thing about early voting is that no one is disenfranchised by an administrative error."
Since the polls closed at 8 p.m., the office awaited anticipated results on specific propositions 1A, 4, 8 and 12 with Bay Area precincts of more particular interest than other Northern California precincts.
By 2.30 a.m., 50.2 percent of California voting precincts had partially or fully reported certified votes to the office, the Secretary of State's office reported. Results from Santa Clara County, the county registrar reported, were at about 50 percent reported by midnight.
Passing was Proposition 1A, which will provide funding for a high-speed train system in California, winning with 52.3 percent as of 2:30 a.m. on Wednesday. Santa Clara County voters approved of it, lending 60 percent of the county's votes in support.
Be the first to comment on this story