The Torrance General Election does not properly fit on a statewide primary ballot.
Letter to the Editor May 18, 2010
Daily Breeze
In my 16 years as City Clerk in the City of Torrance I have found that two things are true. The cost of democracy is not inexpensive. Elections will always cost money. Concentrating on making the voting experience efficient and cost effective by allowing the Torrance voters to focus on local candidates and issues is a better choice. I strongly support the passage of Measure A on the June 8 ballot.
No other city in the state conducts its general election for nonpartisan races on a partisan primary ballot. There must be a reason for that. After attending a meeting with the Los Angeles County Registrar I learned that the passage of a state measure may impact the future of the Torrance elections currently consolidated on the primary ballot with Los Angeles County.
Proposition 14 is a statewide measure to create a Top Two Primary Election for statewide office on a single ballot. Candidates would indicate either their political party or no party preference. Voters would be voting for one candidate in an open primary with the top two vote getters, regardless of party, running against each other in the November general election. The analysis by the Legislative Analyst in the Official Voter Information Guide suggests that in some cases the costs might be increased as the ballots may be longer.
If passed, this change may impact future City of Torrance elections due to the number of physical spaces required on a ballot for candidates and the variable number of statewide measures. The City must ask permission to be included on the ballot each year. Permission could be denied due to a lack of physical space on the ballot.
Two possibilities that might occur if the proposition passes
-If Torrance is allowed on the Los Angeles County ballot the City election will as usual be at the very bottom of a potentially longer ballot.
-If denied a space on the ballot the City must still conduct an election on the primary election date and would do so by either
1. attempting to use the same polling locations set up by the County if there is available space at the location OR
2. consolidating the number of City precincts and having voters go to another location to vote.
In each of these two scenarios there would be separate mailings, ballots and separate ballot boxes resulting in inconvenience to voters.
This scenario suggests one more good reason to support moving the local Torrance elections away from a statewide primary election where election issues are focused on the statewide issues and candidates.
Vote Yes on Measure A on June 8.
Sue Herbers
Torrance City Clerk
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