Polling places eliminated, districts change and voters get an open primary
Polling places eliminated, districts change and voters get an open primary
Registered voters in San Benito County may notice a few differences as they receive their sample ballots in the coming weeks due to redistricting as well as a statewide change to open primaries.
Staff members from the county’s registrar of voters made a presentation at the May 1 board of supervisors meeting to go over some of the changes.
One of the changes that some voters will notice on their sample ballot is that some voters no longer have an assigned polling place. Due to changes in the precincts because of redistricting voters in some neighborhoods will be required to vote by mail.
The vote-by-mail neighborhoods are largely in the southeast part of the county, where there aren’t enough registered voters for a polling place. For the June primary, the county will have 42 precincts, including 17 for mail ballots and 25 for in-person polling places.
The election’s office staff estimated the savings to the county in reduction of polling places would be $10,000. The reduction in polling places will reduce the cost of staffing on Election Day.
In addition, the staff will print one voter information guide for all party affiliations to save on the cost of printing and mailing.
Open primary
The June 5 primary will see the implementation of Prop. 14, approved by voters in June 2010 to allow for an open primary election system. The open primary will allow the two
candidates who receive the most votes to go on to the general election, regardless of their party affiliation. In the past, voters were allowed to vote just for candidates within their registered party during the primary.
On the ballot, the candidates will list their party preference but the listing is not an endorsement of the candidate by any political party. In the informational guide, there may be party endorsement information. Those with no party affiliation were not allowed to vote in the primary.
Not all party candidates will be listed on the open primary ballot. The only parties allowing their candidates to be voted on by voters of any party affiliations in the open primary on June 5 are the Democratic Party and the American Independent Party. Voters of other parties will have to request a ballot for the Democratic or American Independent parties.
The election office staff said voters have until May 21 to request a crossover ballot for either of those two parties or to change their party registration.
The other parties with candidates will allow only voters registered for their party to vote for their candidates. They include the Libertarian Party of California, the Green Party of California, the Peace and Freedom Party of California and the California Republican Party. Anyone registered with these parties will receive a ballot with only the candidates from their party listed – anyone else who would like to vote for the candidates of one of these parties would have to change their political party affiliation by May 21 to receive the proper ballot.
The election staff sent out 2,600 notices to residents that had no party affiliation to notify them of the changes to the open primary, and as of last week had received 175 requests to get a “crossover” ballot or to update their party affiliation.
The change to an open primary only affects state candidates in partisan races – it does not apply to any federal offices, including the office of the president or U.S. senators or congressmen.
Districts change it up
Another change voters may notice on the sample ballot is that some of the districts have changed due to redistricting. The U.S. 17th congressional district will become the 20th district and the state’s 28th assembly district will become the 30th assembly district. State senate district 12 will stay the same in San Benito County.
The staff said the district boundaries will not change until after the election.
The district boundaries for the city of Hollister may change between the primary and the general election – if voters approve a measure for an at-large mayor, the city council districts will be adjusted from five districts down to four.
Vote-by-mail ballots were expected to go out on May 7. The last day to change a party affiliation is May 21. The last day to request a vote-by-mail ballot is May 30.
The registrar of voters office will be open June 2 and 3 to collect vote-by-mail ballots, at 440 Fifth St., Room 206.
Anyone with questions about a ballot or polling place can call the registrar of voters at 636-4016 or visit www.sbcvote.us.
