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Today's election is expected to bring out the usual low voter turnout. Speaking to that in an earlier LAist post about today's election, commenter Rizzo makes a good case on why it's also important to vote in local elections, not just presidential ones. "I was the lone voter at my polling place in Silver Lake. Granted it was at 11:15 am but the poll workers said it had been dead all day. I find it odd that people don't realize that their state and local government arguably have equal, if not more, effect on their day-to-day lives than who the president is. Please get out and vote." Also: Over at Eric Garcetti's campaign blog, he's soliciting comments on your voting experience.
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Begley is a raving nutball and he is dead wrong. StrokerMcgurk
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Indeed, the feds take more of your money, but the locals can ruin your neighborhood in a single Council session.
We're like big babies — chewing on big, colorful issues and crying over presidential acceptance speeches while our county sales tax hits 10% and four-story condo buildings spring up next door.
PS. Tell your boy Eric to go make me a sandwich. In a just world, he'd be worried about his political hide today.
It's sad... I just left my polling place and they told me I was the 71st person to be there today. Yes, this past national election was critical and I understand that people may have been burned out by the seemingly endless presidential campaign. But, there are important issues on the ballot that Los Angeleno's need to care about. Oh well... crossing my fingers for an post work rush!
I'm from Silver Lake and voted absentee.
I find it odd that people don't realize that their state and local government arguably have equal, if not more, effect on their day-to-day lives than who the president is.
Yup.
I chastised a few of my co-workers this morning for not voting and their response was a shrugging of the shoulders followed by, "meh".
I wish more people realized how important these elections are.
It's definitely frustrating.
Yay. Four more people who voted!!!
I gotta say that I was a little bothered that I was not asked to show any ID to vote. Especially in an election with such a low expected voter turnout it seems to me that this sets the stage for some fairly easy voter fraud to go down if someone had the mind to do so.
Thoughts?
Were any of you asked to show ID?
If this is standard procedure I am wondering why... If it is so undocumented people can vote couldn't they at least require a utility bill, bank card, even a library card... something with a name on it?
Rizzo, the whole voter fraud thing is a solution in search of a problem. In an election where 10% even bother to turn out, who's going to bother to committing voter fraud? Would you risk prison to cast one extra vote? There has been a lot of noise from the right recently about voter fraud and all it really amounts to is suppressing voter turnout among poor and minority, (READ MOSTLY DEMOCRAT), populations.
**tcolberg, and feild, I've been voting mail for years. I love not having to show up on a certain day, at a certain place, between certain hours. With VBM I have have my ballot mailed to me, and have two weeks to study the issues and mail it back. IMO they should do all the smaller elections by mail, it would be cheaper and probably increase voter participation.
I didn't mean to sound like a conspiracy theorist re: the ID thing. Was just wondering about it...
I had a feeling it might have something to do with the poor/minority vote and I certainly wouldn't want anything in place that would keep anyone from voting. Maybe I was a bit naive to think that everyone would have something... anything?... with their name on it.
Back to the original topic... Even if the perception is that that the mayor's race is pretty much a done deal, the City Attorney and (especially) Controller are pretty damn important. Not to mention Measures B, E, etc.
Personally I would like to see a run-off for the mayor's race. Even if it is only so Villaraigosa has to answer to his constituents before his second term. If he was the 11% mayor before (I'm sure may of you have read the LA Weekly articles) I can only imagine what we are going to get when he is simultaneously running for governor.
His sense of entitlement bothers me.
Anyway, thanks to all who voted... one way or another. Nice to see that there is not total apathy in this city.
If you're homeless, then honestly, you probably wouldn't. No utility bills, and I think you need to prove residency to get a library card. It also might count as a poll tax - it's not free to get a license, you know. Yes, it's a stretch, but then so is the justification for Roe v. Wade (and I am vehemently pro-choice). I have heard that excuse used in the past.
As much as I'd love to vilify my neighbors for their apathy and laziness, I have some sympathy. It can be REALLY hard to get decent information about issues on local ballots. In California, we demand a LOT from our voters, and expect them to make an informed decision about so many things, but there is no effort to educate the public about what all these positions and ballots actually do.
Personally, I rely a lot on endorsements from trusted (or distrusted) advocacy groups, like the Sierra Club, League of Women Voters, and the NRA (gotta see who they back!). But these groups often take a pass on local elections as well, and I'm left picking a name out of a hat.
i voted absentee cause i'm stuck at school (in downtown) and my polling place is in tarzana
I never get asked to show ID and did not today. Also, maybe a way to increase turnout is to have these discussions AHEAD of the day of the vote.
And there are time when local elections have a larger turnout, and its when there are real candidates opposing real candidates, and not a one-sided competition against a bunch of minor-leaguers. If no real candidates run its because there is a perception that the population feels the status quo has done a good job and its not worth the fight. So in a way the public has already voted, but through public opinion polling.
It seems like you're solving the wrong problem. If low turnout is a rampant problem (as indicated by this and every election in memory--and yes, I'm counting November 2008), we should boost turnout. If voter fraud is a problem (something which study after study has failed to show), then we should increase our vigilance.
Using IDs has been struck down as an illlegal effort to suppress turnout. Much like poll taxes. Whether or not that's a fair assessment, there's no denying that ID requirements have been pursued by people trying to keep minority turnout low.
Nope.
Then again, they never do at my polling place.
I gave up complaining about it.
Sorry, but I just don't find that to be a valid excuse anymore.
Nearly every candidate I researched had their own website and those who didn't, I had no trouble finding information about them.
There was also a big rally last night at the LAX Sheraton hosted by Doug McIntyre and broadcast live on KABC. Nearly every candidate was there (even ones running for LACC seats) and each was allowed a few minutes to tell the voters about themselves.
Also, you have sites like LAist, Metblogs, Mayor Sam, etc., so there's really no excuse not to be an informed voter.
For instance, I'm a registered Republican but when I received a flyer that read "Attention Republican Voters" instructing me to vote for Jack Weiss, along with some other conservative-leaning candidates, I just laughed and threw it away.
I don't know who Weiss thinks he's kidding with that but it certainly didn't fool this voter.
You definitely have to do your homework though.
Then, if you don't mind my asking, how did YOU vote for your representative on the water replenishment district? Or county superior court?
I did my homework. I went to smartvoter.org. I still found nothing that would help me make a decision.
IIRC, you are not supposed to be asked for ID in order to vote in this state. Unless someone issues a challenge against a voter, the voter's ID is their word, their address, and their signature.
I am heading to my polling place now.
I voted. Bite me!
I really wanted to vote, but I just moved to a new city and apparently the DMV "register to vote" thing didn't work for me like it did for my boyfriend. I'll have to try again and see if it takes this time.
Apparently nearly everyone in Redondo was running unopposed, so I don't feel quite as bad as I thought I might.
It is ILLEGAL for them to ask you to show ID to vote in this state. It's not something to "complain about", it is your right.
"Voter fraud" is a fallacy perpetuated by the Republican party. Voter ID laws are a scam to decrease minority turnout.
Also, I got a lot of great info from the sample ballot which everyone gets in the mail. It has lengthy, nice pro,con, and rebuttal statements. Is that not enough?
I would humbly suggest that elections be held on Sunday. Many people simply cannot get away from work (despite the law saying they have to be allowed out, there's a lot of things employers can do to discourage workers from taking the time off.) Also, a lot of people work long hours and feeling super exhausted after. Another way of discouraging voter turnout.
Better still, make voting days mandatory holidays.
You're more likely to be mugged on your way to a polling station than have your vote make a difference.
I'm sure there are other good reasons to vote, but when it comes down to it, one vote really doesn't make a difference. So why bother?
Those of you that did vote, who did you vote for and what was your reasoning? What race or issue was the most important to you and why?
I'm a journalism student at USC, and I am writing an article about the recent election to get an idea of why L.A. voters (however few there are) voted for who/what they did.
Oh and I would also need your name and age. Thanks!
I forgot to vote.
I'm from another state where they only have elections in November. Not only does this reduce costs - fewer elections, but results in a higher turnout because people don't associate March with an election.
Now I'm hearing there's another one in May. Is that true? If so, WTF?
It got to about 9pm last Tuesday when it dawned on me it was a voting day.
I don't know anyone who voted in this past election. :-(