Voters turn down ballot measures

Effort to check voter choices via ‘parallel election’ at local polls raises concerns.Voters rejected all 12 ballot measures on Tuesday in a resounding statewide defeat for Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s efforts to reform state government.

Voters in Orange County, however, reacted favorably to Schwarzenegger’s proposals -- as well as to a measure that would have required parental notification for a minor seeking an abortion. The notification measure was favored by a margin of 59.5% to 40.5% in the county but rejected statewide by 52.6% of voters.

County voters followed the statewide lead on some items, rejecting all of the ballot measures involving expenditures of Proposition 172 funds earmarked for public safety; they also turned down a proposal to place utility companies under the jurisdiction of the Public Utilities Commission.

Voter turnout in the county was nearly 40% of registered voters, higher than expected.

In Laguna, several voters voiced concerns over a “parallel election” being held outside of their polling places at Heisler Park and Legion Hall during Tuesday’s statewide election.

After receiving approval from the city, some Laguna residents volunteered to double-check the results of the balloting, according to Gary Weber, who volunteered at the Heisler Park site.

The presence of the parallel election was not well received by one man, who called the police, claiming it was in violation of the law, Weber said.

Required to be 100 feet from the polling site, the volunteers had no official name or sponsor, but said they felt problems with past elections were reason enough to challenge computer counting methods.

“Past exit polls have shown disparity,” said Weber.

Participants in the parallel election were invited to record their votes after voting in the official election.

At the end of the day, the votes were to be counted at a public place such as a fast food restaurant.

Estimating that they would attract between 50% to 60% of the total number of voters in the official election, volunteers in the parallel election believe their efforts were well worth it.

Voters coming out of the official site had mixed opinions of the parallel election.

“I think it’s a good thing,” Judy Joshua said.

“Seems like they’re busybodies,” Matt Warren said.

“I think citizens have a right and responsibility to audit, especially because of the last election,” Linda Frost said.