‘STEADY FLOW OF BALLOTS’
By Christopher Cadelago
Burbank Leader
04/15/politics/blr-election15.txt
April 15 2009
CA
Poll worker says a fair number of residents personally delivered
their votes despite mail-in system.
BURBANK — Voters took to the streets Tuesday in hopes that a 12-hour
push would secure their candidates a coveted seat on the City Council.
Election officials at the city’s ballot drop-off stations — City Hall,
McCambridge Recreation Center, Buena Vista Library, Joslyn Adult Center
and Tuttle Adult Center — reported no problems with electioneering
and a gradual uptick in ballots received as the day progressed.
"We’ve been impressed by the steady flow of ballots," said Sue Ann
Gordon, a City Hall poll worker. "Although we have a mail-in process,
some people want to come in on election day and personally deliver
their ballots or fill them out."
The process, though, is not without its critics. Those opposed to
mail-in balloting said it replaces a time-honored tradition with
bureaucracy and prevents newcomers from making late surges.
A majority of the candidates, citing the mail-in process, ended their
campaigns sooner than they would have otherwise.
Incumbent David Gordon had a relatively normal day, seeing patients
at his Magnolia Park optometry office. Mayor Dave Golonski spent
much of the day in meetings downtown and at local schools. Elise
Stearns-Niesen taught a dance class at Van Nuys High School. Kimberly
Jo pulled together a "transition team" of businesspeople and other
supporters in the event of her victory. And Jess Talamantes relaxed
with family and friends.
Only Garen Yegparian spent the entire day campaigning. The challenger
made last-minute phone calls, knocked on doors and otherwise chased
down votes as the clock ticked toward deadline.
"I believe in campaigning," Yegparian said.
"At this point, as a candidate, it’s a wait-and-see game," Talamantes
said early Tuesday.
The mail-in process also staggers how votes come in to the point that
important issues were not aired, Gordon said.
"No one has been questioned about their views, or more importantly,
their qualifications," he said, adding he would have liked to have
seen the candidates pressed about their views.
Another reason for this may be a lack of public forums, Yegparian
said. The six candidates had no debates in the general election and
participated in just one forum. By contrast, Glendale’s election had
more than 10.
Still, voters in favor of mail-in balloting said they appreciate the
convenience the system affords them. What’s more, poll workers at each
of the city’s drop-off sites asserted that the method has eliminated
election-day snafus that are commonplace in municipal elections.
"This is the last day, and I know how important this election is,"
said Norair Vartanian, who stopped off at City Hall to vote. "I saw
a flier or advertisement for the Armenian guy [Yegparian] and came in
to vote for him. This is Burbank, and you don’t get the same intensity
as Glendale."
Glendale held its elections last week and received a string of
complaints concerning understaffed precincts and electioneering.
Officials last week said they would likely review the city’s policy
concerning late balloting, or ballots normally reserved for those
who cannot meet the application deadline due to illness or disability.
Burbank switched to all-mail-in ballots in 2005, and has since been
able to avoid many of the issues plaguing neighboring cities, said
City Clerk Margarita Campos.
"I believe that it’s the most convenient process for our voters,"
she said. "And I am here to serve the voters first."
The method saves the city upward of 20% of its previous costs per
election, but turnout has been uneven the last few years. Beginning
with the primary election in 2005 and ending with the 2009 primary,
the return rates were 19.1%, 23.9%, 24.3%, 20%, 20% and 20.4%.
Burbank spent roughly $200,000 to run the two elections, Campos said.
"I understand the financial benefit," Stearns-Niesen said. "[But]
it is functional to know, at what point do you stop campaigning?"