Our View: A promising plan to boost voter turnout

Voter turnout is so abysmal throughout California that something has to change.

So while it might not be the ultimate or perfect solution, legislators ought to seriously consider Secretary of State Alex Padilla’s proposal to overhaul how Californians vote.

Padilla is not looking for some sort of statewide edict. He’s taking a smaller, more workable approach. Under Senate Bill 450, counties would be allowed to use a new election system starting in 2018. If all goes well, it could be expanded. Under the plan:

▪ All voters would be sent a ballot that they could return by mail, or drop off at secure 24-hour boxes or at new voting centers.

▪ The new centers would be open at least eight hours a day for 10 days before Election Day.

▪ On Election Day, voters could cast ballots at any voting center. There would be fewer of these larger centers – one for every 15,000 registered voters – instead of numerous polling places scattered across counties.

This plan would adapt elections to how most Californians prefer to cast ballots – by mail, which 61 percent used last November. Admittedly, that was 61 percent of roughly a third of all eligible voters, since 65 percent of voters didn’t bother.

The proposal has the advantage of actually having been tried. Last month, Padilla observed this plan in action in Colorado, where voter turnout has outpaced California’s even more since its system went into use in 2012.

California policymakers and reformers have been wringing their hands over declining turnout in statewide elections, particularly in non-presidential years. It hit an all-time low for midterms last November at 34.8 percent. In the primary last June, turnout was a record-low 25 percent.

Padilla should get credit for offering a real proposal Wednesday – and keeping a campaign promise.

While the state is trying to make it easier to register to vote – online registration started in 2012 and same-day registration is set to start as soon as 2016 – some experts say those changes are unlikely to significantly boost turnout. Many believe California has too many elections, with too many issues. In districts with close contests, advertising becomes incessant and nasty turning off would-be voters.

Others feel it is wrong to encourage voting by those who haven’t taken the time comprehend the issues or learn about the candidates.

But those are broader issues. Padilla is concentrating on the mechanics of voting. Political consultant Paul Mitchell estimates the new system could increase turnout by 10 percent statewide and more in places such as Los Angeles, where fewer voters now vote by mail.

More mail balloting and fewer voting precincts should save money, but if necessary, the state should chip in so that a broad selection of counties can test the new system.

This story was originally published June 12, 2015 at 6:06 PM with the headline "Our View: A promising plan to boost voter turnout."