Vote 2018
Absentee Ballot: My Decisions, Decisions, and More Decisions
I received my absentee ballot several weeks ago from the Los Angeles Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk. They’re handling the logistics for the November 6 election even though there are five Long Beach measures on the ballot.
My absentee ballot
I also received the sample ballot. That is 88 pages long. That doesn’t include the front and inside back covers. I will not lie. It’s all a little overwhelming and of course, I’ve waited until the last week to begin focusing on the absentee ballot.
My sample ballot
Voting is a Right Earned and Fought Over
While there are questionable efforts around the country to suppress the exercise of that right, I can reasonably say that they really want you to vote here in California. It’s a thing we pride ourselves on. Here’s the problem. Just because you can vote doesn’t mean it’s going to be easy. Tell me again why we do elections on a work day? (Make it a national holiday or do on a weekend, both Saturday and Sunday). Some of us choose to do the absentee ballot. But whether you’re voting in person or doing the absentee ballot, you better be prepared to find time to study. I’m no expert on the subject of voting, but I can see where the size of the ballot might be a little intimidating.
Absentee Ballot: Too many Decisions. Not Enough Information.
You’re invited to come along with me on this adventure. Today, Monday October 29, I’m focusing on voter-nominated offices like Governor, Insurance Commissioner, and the United States Senator. There are twelve (12) of them in total. Wednesday, October 31, I’ll tackle the nonpartisan offices. Those are the judgeships as well as the Superintendent of Public Instruction, County Assessor, and County Sheriff; twenty-six of them. That’s right 26. Then, on Friday, November 2, I’ll finish up with the seventeen (17) state, county, and Long Beach measures. Add it up and that’s fifty-five (55) decisions by Friday. My goal is to get my absentee ballot in the mail then.
Making Good Decisions from Good Information
Of course, you can sit in front of your television, sit in your car and listen to the radio, or surf the net and watch and hear the countless number of pro-candidate and anti-candidate attack ads flooding our senses. This doesn’t even count the ads on the various measures. Or you can go to websites of the candidates and measures, research them, and make informed decisions (Yeah, right). Luckily, there’s help. A number of nonprofit and media sites provide digestible bits of information to assist you with your decision-making:
- From CalMatters.org 2018 Election Guide
There are the endorsements from Editorial Boards. Here are a few you can consult:
Then, Here are some more media information resources:
- KPCC Southern California Public Radio: The Voter Game Plan
- Great analysis of Long Beach Ballot Measure BBB- Three-term limit on Mayoral and City Council Service by Greggory Moore
Of course, you can still literally do it the hard way and check out the various candidate and measure websites. Today, I’ll focus on the partisan offices:
Governor
| Gavin Newsom Party Preference: Democratic | |
| John H. Cox Party Preference: Republican |
Lieutenant Governor
| Eleni Kounalakis Party Preference: Democratic | |
| Ed Hernandez Party Preference: Democratic |
Secretary of State
| Mark P. Meuser Party Preference: Republican | |
| Alex Padilla Party Preference: Democratic |
Controller
| Betty T. Yee Party Preference: Democratic | |
| Kostantinos Roditis Party Preference: Republican |
Treasurer
| Fiona Ma Party Preference: Democratic | |
| Greg Conlon Party Preference: Republican |
Attorney General
| Xavier Becerra Party Preference: Democratic | |
| Steven C. Bailey Party Preference: Republican |
Insurance Commissioner
| Steve Poizner Party Preference: None | |
| Ricardo Lara Party Preference: Democratic |
Member of the State Board of Equalization 3rd District: The State Board of Equalization administers Property Tax, Alcoholic Beverage Tax, and Tax on Insurer’s programs. Visit HERE for more information.
| Tony Vazquez Party Preference: Democratic | |
| G. Rick Marshall Party Preference: Republican |
United States Senator
| Kevin De Leon Party Preference: Democratic | |
| Dianne Feinstein Party Preference: Democratic |
United States Representative 47th District
| John Briscoe Party Preference: Republican | |
| Alan Lowenthal Party Preference: Democratic |
State Senator 34th District
| Janet Nguyen Party Preference: Republican | |
| Tom Umberg Party Preference: Democratic |
Member of State Assembly 70th District
| Honor “Mimi” Robson Party Preference: Libertarian | |
| Patrick O’Donnell Party Preference: Democratic |
Help for Your Absentee Ballot
The Long Beach City Clerk has partnered with the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk’s office to ensure that the Vote November 6 elections go off just fine. PalacioMagazine.com spoke by phone with Long Beach Assistant City Clerk Allison Bunma about this election, deadlines, and the work that is going into ensuring that every vote counts.
Allison Bunma, Assistant City Clerk, is a Certified Municipal Clerk. Ms. Bunma’s career has led her to serve the City of Long Beach for over 27 years; the last 21 with the City Clerk’s office. Bunma oversees the legislative business of the City which includes working with 9 city council offices, the Mayor, City Auditor, City Prosecutor, and City Attorney. She also oversees the City of Long Beach’s thirty-five plus Boards and Commissions.
Photo by C x 2
Early Voting
If you can’t make it to your polling place on Tuesday, November 6th don’t worry, there are ten locations open two weekends before the November 6th General Election (November 3-4). You don’t need to bring anything with you, but the County clerk does recommend having your Sample Ballot booklet. Additionally, there is no restriction on where to go, you can visit any Weekend Early Voting site. To find out these locations, visit HERE
Important Things to Know Before Arriving:
These locations are also drop-off locations. If you already have your Vote by Mail ballot you do not need to wait in line.
You will not be using the ink-a-vote system used at a polling place. You will fill in your selections on a Vote by Mail ballot.
If you are in line before 4 pm you will be able to vote.
If you missed the registration deadline for this election you will still be able to vote. Under California Election Law, Conditional Voter Registration (CVR) allows a prospective voter to conditionally register and cast a provisional ballot.
Wait, There’s More for My Absentee Ballot
New Citizen Eligibility to Register and Vote: Up to November 8, 8:00 P. M. Election Day- A new citizen is eligible to register and vote at the office of, or at another location designated by, the county elections official at any time beginning on the 14th day before an election and ending at the close of polls on the election day
Election Day: November 6, 2018- Polls open 7:00 a.m., close 8:00 p.m. At 8:00 pm, the staff will announce outside the polling place that the poll is now closed and allow voters in line by 8:00 pm to vote but make sure to identify who the last voter will be. There are many steps to close poll but essentially poll workers need to repack all supplies, count signatures, seal ballots, turn off and pack up the PRB machine, completing the official ballot statement to ensure that all ballots are being accounted for.
Election Day: November 6, 2018- Vote by Mail Ballots Returned – 8:00 P. M. Last day for Vote By Mail ballots to be received or turned in personally by the voter to the county elections official’s office or at any polling place in the county. An authorized representative may return the voted ballot under specified conditions. Any Vote By Mail ballot cast under this division shall be timely cast if it is received by the voter’s elections official via the United States Postal Service or a bona fide private mail delivery company no later than three days after election day in addition to the provisions set forth in E. C. 3020, Sections 1 and 2.
Provisional ballots: Provisional ballots are issued at the polls when a voter’s name is not listed on the poll roster. Provisional ballots are sealed in special envelopes at the polls and must be individually researched and verified at the LA County Registrar-Recorder before ballots are counted or rejected, in accordance with election laws. Once a provisional voter’s eligibility to vote is verified, the ballot is then counted.
Of course, you and I can drop off the absentee ballot envelope at one of seven locations on Long Beach before Election Day:
Bay Shore Neighborhood Library located at 195 Bayshore Ave, Long Beach
Bret Harte Neighborhood Library, 1595 W. Willow St., Long Beach
Burnett Neighborhood Library at 560 E. Hill St, Long Beach
El Dorado Neighborhood Library at 2900 Studebaker Rd, Long Beach
Michelle Obama Neighborhood Library at 5870 Atlantic Ave, Long Beach
Cal State Long Beach at 1212 N Bellflower Blvd., Long Beach
- Long Beach City Hall at 333 W. Ocean Blvd., Long Beach
Information Resources for Vote November 6, 2018
Official government information regarding all the various ballot measures along with candidates can be found at the following websites:
City of Long Beach City Clerk HERE
Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk LAVote.net
- California Secretary of State Election Information HERE
Photo by FngKestrel
