Final Ballots Coming In To Decide Proposition 50 in California
John Palminteri
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – A steady stream of cars and voters have been coming through the Santa Barbara County election’s office parking lot in the final hours of the current special election.
The ballot has only one decision for the voters to make. There are no candidates and no initiatives. It is just Proposition 50 dealing with redistricting.
The people showing up on Election Day were basically in two categories: The voters who knew they were going to vote, but had not had a chance to do it yet until this deadline, and others who had not made up their mind on the possible change on district lines which could happen.
One couple discussed the item but them voted secretly. Claire VanBlaricum said, “we finally decided and we had to bite the bullet and we did and came down and this was the best way to make sure it was counted.”
Her husband Glenn said, “I don’t know how she voted, I assume she voted like I did but we don’t know. She didn’t see my vote. I didn’t see her vote.”
The ballot drop box in front of the elections office was busy, but it has already been cleared out three or four times today. The final batch will be accepted up to 8:00 p.m. when the election ends and the polls close.
For one voter, Laurie Divatson this site is “only the official one, here at the elections because you never know. ”
The feeling after voting is one that is unique for those who came through. “It is immediate gratification you get proud it makes you feel more American but I think the mail in ballot is a wonderful thing to do. As a nurse all of my clients cant make it to the polling place so they mail it in, ” said Rosanne Marquis.
“It is a civic duty and it feels like we are participating and that we can make a difference and it feels good, ” said Cash Upton.
If there is a line and voters are in place they will be accepted in to vote.
Election workers have already been verifying signatures and preparing the ballots for counting.
That process is done in advance in the case there is an issue with a signature that doesn’t match or a damaged ballot. The election workers attempt to find the voter to correct the issue so the vote can count.
(More details, photos and video will be added here later today.)
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