Election continues to draw few voters today

By Bill Lindelof - blindelof@sacbee.com

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Voter apathy toward today's special election is being reflected at mostly empty polling places and also at Sacramento County election headquarters.

Turnout has been mostly a trickle representing a small fraction of eligible voters. And for the election professionals, the going could hardly be slower.

Normally, 40 staff members at election headquarters would be busy answering calls from voters seeking the location of their polling places, but only seven employees performed those duties today.

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Stanislaus County election information

"We are normally slammed with phone calls," said Brad Buyse, spokesman for Sacramento County Voter Registration and Elections Office.

Buyse said all polling places opened without a hitch today.

"It's just a slow, slow day," Buyse said. "None of us who have worked in elections for years have seen it this slow."

He blamed voter burnout, apathy and "people thinking if they can budget their own family finances, then why can't the state do the same?"

Vote-by-mail results will be posted on the county elections Web site at 8:15 p.m.

At a polling place on Wissemann Drive in Sacramento County east of the city limits, voters trickled in individually or in occasional pairs, enjoying their choice of booths, most of which stood empty.

Some people participated enthusiastically, though, including two residents of the nearby Glenbrook neighborhood who walked to the polling place.

"Every election is important," said May Tanihara after casting her ballot.

Ray Tanihara agreed.

"That's what it is all about, exercising your right to vote," he said.

Voters are being asked to decide on six measures tied to the state's budget problems. Approval of Propositions 1B, 1C and 1 D would limit the projected deficit to $15.4 billion, but if all three lose, the gap would grow to $21.3 billion.

The proposals include a spending limit and tax increase and borrowing billions of dollars against future lottery revenues.

State elections officials had predicted a low turnout -- perhaps 30 percent of less of eligible voters, and Buyse previously said he expected "dismal" local turnout.

Early activity appeared to bear out his prediction.