Calif. Officials Face Daunting Ballot

[Nambe]

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP)

With less than two months before an unprecedented vote on unseating the governor of the most populous state, elections officials face assembling a cumbersome ballot of nearly 200 would-be replacements.

Having so many candidates qualify by Saturday's deadline presented a daunting challenge Sunday for everyone involved in the recall election, including 15.2 million registered voters who will be asked Oct. 7 whether to replace Gov. Gray Davis.

"The big unknown is who will turn out to vote in this election," said John Pitney, government professor at Claremont McKenna College. "How many will vote on the recall question and then freeze when they see this list of over 100 names?"

The candidate total grew to 193 as the secretary of state's office sifted through paperwork Sunday. The signatures the candidates collected still must be verified before they make it on the ballot.

Some county officials are daunted by the size at the candidate list, but Janice Atkinson, assistant registrar of voters in Sonoma County, said she believes most of the issues will be sorted out by Election Day. In the event a recount is needed, some counties including hers might have to resort to hand counting, she said. ---

[PartyPooper]

1. It pays to be a permanent absentee voter!

I highly recommend it...especially for this 'election'!

:dem:

[MaineDem]

2. Good grief!

"...but Janice Atkinson, assistant registrar of voters in Sonoma County, said she believes most of the issues will be sorted out by Election Day."

Duhhh. If they aren't sorted out by then they have bigger issues to deal with.

On one hand I think this is a demonstration of democracy at work. On the other hand it looks like such a big joke. I don't know what to make of it all.