Election may even see 'hanging chads' encore
Posted 8/12/2003 1:21 AM
USAToday
Californians will vote Oct. 7 on whether to recall Democratic Gov. Gray Davis. They will be asked two questions: Should Davis remain as governor, and who should replace him if ousted. If Davis fails to get 50% to keep him on the first question, the candidate with the most votes on Question 2 will be elected to serve the remaining 39 months of the term.
Here are some frequently asked questions about the unusual election:
Q: If someone votes to keep Davis in office, can that person still vote for a replacement candidate?
A: Yes. Everyone can vote on a potential replacement for Davis, even voters who leave the first question unanswered.
Q: Can Californians still register to vote? Are many new voters expected to register?
A: The last day for new voter registrations is Sept. 22. Some political analysts say actor Arnold Schwarzenegger's candidacy will draw many young movie fans as first-time voters. Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante, the only major Democrat running, could attract Hispanic voters who want him to become California's first Hispanic governor since 1875.
Q: Can someone enrolled as a Democrat vote for a Republican candidate?
A: Yes. This isn't a party primary. Voters can choose anyone they favor.
Q: Do other states allow recall elections?
A: California and 17 other states allow the recall of statewide officials; 36 states allow the recall of local officials. Recall elections targeting state legislators and members of local school boards and city councils are common in many states. The only U.S. governor ever recalled was Lynn Frazier of North Dakota in 1921.
In 1988, 480,000 Arizonans signed petitions to recall GOP Gov. Evan Mecham. Before a recall vote could be scheduled, the Legislature impeached and removed Mecham.
Q: Why is California doing this?
A: Voters are frustrated over a limping economy, a record $38 billion state budget deficit that the Legislature recently fixed only partially with accounting gimmicks, and higher electric bills after the 2001 blackouts.
Davis, who was re-elected by a narrow 5% margin last November, is getting widespread blame for the state's woes. But a petition drive to recall Davis was sputtering until U.S. Rep. Darrell Issa, a Republican, contributed $1.7 million to pay signature-gatherers. Issa announced he'd run to replace Davis but withdrew Thursday.
Q: Can the polls be trusted?
A: Some California pollsters say predicting who will turn out to vote in the unprecedented election is so difficult that poll numbers are questionable.
Q: Will the ballot contain other issues?
A: The ballot will contain the recall, with its two-part format, and two initiatives.
Proposition 53 is a proposed California constitutional amendment that would require a portion of the state's budget to be set aside for spending on infrastructure.
Proposition 54 is a controversial "racial privacy" measure that would ban state government from collecting racial data.
Q: Could California have problems with hanging chads as Florida did in the 2000 presidential election?
A: Yes. Seven of California's 58 counties, including populous Los Angeles County, will use the same type of punch-card voting that caused the trouble in Florida. Under a court consent decree, counties are required to junk the punch-card devices by the March 2004 primaries but won't have time to make the change before the recall election. A pending federal lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union asks to delay the recall vote until the punch cards are replaced.
Q: When does absentee voting begin?
A: Sept. 8 is the first day. Sept. 30 is the last day to apply for an absentee ballot.
Q: What will the election cost the state of California?
A: Secretary of State Kevin Shelley, a Democrat, estimates it will cost taxpayers $53 million to $66 million.
By Martin Kasindorf
http://www.usatoday.com/news/politicselections/2003-08-12-recall-qna-usat_x.htm "If you want on or off this RECALL ping list, Freepmail me”