A Closer Look: New voters get smooth experience
By Harold Lee
Oct. 7, 2003 9:00 p.m.
Californians turned out to vote in much higher numbers Tuesday
than in the 2002 gubernatorial election, and for many students at
UCLA, the recall election was their first opportunity to vote.
These newly registered voters got an unexpected chance to
participate in an election a year earlier than they would have if
the recall petition had not been certified.
Students lined up at off-campus polling sites to decide the fate
of California Gov. Gray Davis, who ultimately lost his job to
Republican candidate Arnold Schwarzenegger.
The list of 135 recall candidates made it difficult for some
students to take the election seriously.
“It’s frustrating because of the budget,” said
first-year world arts and cultures student Maeven McGovern.
“It’s a serious situation, and we get candidates who
just want fame.”
Others, on the other hand, liked the diversity on the
ballot.
“I liked the variety,” Chen said. “It is
amusing but encouraging that anyone can run.”
And despite low voter turnout in the past, first-time voters
said it was important for them to vote in the recall election.
“There’s no reason if I can vote, that I don’t
take the opportunity to do so,” said Xandus Chen, a
second-year biochemistry student.
Across the state, elections officials expressed relief that the
outcome was nothing like the situation in Florida after the
disputed 2000 presidential election.
Contra Costa County Clerk Stephen Weir, a spokesman for the
voter registrars in the state’s 58 counties, said the smooth
vote, despite numerous predictions of disaster and chaos, proves
state elections officials “˜”˜know what they are
doing.”
Poll workers and voters alike acknowledged the simplicity of the
voting process.
“It’s not as scary as I thought it would be,”
Chen said. “I thought there would be a lot of
paperwork.”
But Rev. Jesse Jackson said the election should be challenged in
court because voters were disadvantaged by having fewer polling
places, especially in minority areas. He said universities in
particular were left out, noting that UCLA went from five polling
places to zero.
“˜”˜That disenfranchises students en
masse,” Jackson said Tuesday after an appearance with
Davis. “˜”˜It disenfranchises the 18-year-olds in much
bigger numbers, much bigger than the chad issue.”
The out-of-the-ordinary election also created an opportunity for
many new voters to increase their understanding of electoral
processes.
“I’m more politically aware of what’s
happening in California and the United States,” said
second-year physics student Kenny Lei.
With reports from Daily Bruin wire services.
