Election season has begun, with filing periods now closed. Although it is only August, the start of absentee voting is Oct. 9, just six weeks away. It used to be a voter needed a special excuse to vote absentee but that is no longer the case. Now voters can register as permanent absentees or decide when they receive their voter information to send in a request for an absentee ballot.
The Contra Costa County Elections Department encourages residents to vote absentee because it results in fewer polling places, therefore less expense. Danville, as of last Friday, had a total voter registration of 26,630; out of these, 9,671 were registered permanent absentee. In the 2004 election, 27 percent of those voting in Danville did so by means of absentee ballots; in 2002, it was 22 percent; in 2000, it was 26.7 percent, according to the Elections Department.
With absentee ballots, the voter has less time to make up his mind. In the Danville race for two Town Council seats and the election for three positions on the San Ramon Valley Unified School District board, people may be familiar with the candidates and the issues and already know how they plan to vote. But propositions can be complicated. Although the main thrust might be a good idea, the devil is often in the details.
Some propositions that promise to be hot issues on the November ballot are:
Proposition 83. Should violent and habitual sex offenders and child molesters be subject to increased penalties, residence restrictions and monitoring?
Proposition 84. Should the state sell bonds to pay for water, flood control, natural resources, park and conservation projects?
Proposition 85. Should the state constitution be changed to prohibit abortion for minors until after the minor’s parent or guardian can be notified except in emergencies?
Proposition 86. Shall additional taxes be charged on the purchase of cigarette packs to provide funding for various health programs?
Proposition 87. Should California oil producers be taxed to pay for incentives for alternative energy, education and training?
Proposition 88. Should owners of each real property parcel pay $50 to raise money to provide additional public school funding?
Luckily there is a lot of information out there to help voters become informed to vote in the Nov. 7 election.
