Because the Oct. 7, recall ballot may be more confusing than
people realize, San Benito County Elections officials are asking
voters to take their time and make sure they fill it out
completely.
Local elections officials have been receiving questions from
voters about the appropriate way to fill out the recall ballot.
A number of voters are apparently confused as to whether they
vote once or twice on the ballot, County Clerk John Hodges said.
Each ballot will consist of five cards, three of those cards are
just the names of the 135 candidates in the recall.
Because the Oct. 7, recall ballot may be more confusing than people realize, San Benito County Elections officials are asking voters to take their time and make sure they fill it out completely.
Local elections officials have been receiving questions from voters about the appropriate way to fill out the recall ballot.
A number of voters are apparently confused as to whether they vote once or twice on the ballot, County Clerk John Hodges said. Each ballot will consist of five cards, three of those cards are just the names of the 135 candidates in the recall.
With absentee ballots expected to start reaching homes throughout the county today, Hodges said it is important voters realize they have several ways they can vote.
“On the first ballot you can vote yes or no on the recall, if you wish to stop there you can. But if you decide to, you have the right to vote for one of the other candidates listed on the ballot.”
With the way the recall election is structured, Hodges said it does not matter whether a person votes yes or no on the recall.
“They still have the right to vote for one of the candidates on the ballot. That way, if the recall is successful everyone will have had a chance to vote for the governor’s replacement,” he said.
However, Hodges is cautioning voters to make sure they do not vote for more than one candidate.
“If you vote for more than one candidate it will be considered an overvote and the vote will not count,” Hodges said. “Vote for one candidate only.”
To make things easier for voters who might not be able to make it to their polling location on Oct. 7, the County Elections Office will hold an early vote Saturday, Oct. 4, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the county court house on the corner of Fifth and Monterey streets.
For more information about the recall vote or registering to vote, call the San Benito County Elections Office at 636-4016.
