More and more voters are taking the easy route and requesting status as permanent absentee voters, said Browning.The mailing of permanent absentee ballots started Oct. 4 and all should be on their way to the more than 80,000 permanent absentee voters by the end of next week.Pretty good for Ventura County, which has about 385,000 registered voters said Browning. “Most of the people who became permanent absentee voters had historically been voting absentee anyway; it works out good for them, saves them a stamp,” requesting the absentee ballot.According to Santa Paula Deputy City Clerk Josie Herrera, voter registration forms are available at City Hall, including those for absentee voters.Business has been brisk: “I have sent at least five registration forms to the county so far this week,” Herrera said Wednesday.Herrera agreed that often registrations reflect “people updating their records…I had a misspelling of a name today,” that was finally corrected although the citizen hadn’t let the misspelling keep them from voting.“I really want to encourage people to come in before the Oct. 18 registration deadline,” to avoid possible mail delays, said Herrera. But, “As long as you come to the City Hall and the Clerk’s office before 5 p.m. on October 18 you will be registered.”For more information, call Herrera at 933-4208.
Voter registration up as Oct. 18 deadline looms
October 15, 2004
Santa Paula News
Voter registration is up in Ventura County as the October 18 deadline looms and Santa Paula has picked up more of those planning on going to the polls – or mark their absentee ballots at home – to vote.
By Peggy KellySanta Paula TimesVoter registration is up in Ventura County as the October 18 deadline looms and Santa Paula has picked up more of those planning on going to the polls – or mark their absentee ballots at home – to vote.As of Wednesday, Oct. 6, there were 10,549 registered voters within Santa Paula City limits, according to a Ventura County elections official.“About a month ago on September 2 it was 10,458 registered voters,” said Assistant Registrar of Voters Gene Browning.But that doesn’t necessarily mean that more people will be voting in the Nov. 2 Presidential Election.“The bulk of registrations we get are re-registrations,” from those who have moved or decided to change their political party, said Browning. “Looking at the stacks coming in,” doesn’t always reflect new voters.“If they move they need to re-register, get married need to re-register, change parties they need to re-register…those are the key” prompters of registration, Browning noted.But, overall, “Registration is going good, they’re coming in bigger than usual but pretty consistent with this point of time,” less than a month before the Presidential Election.
