California Special Election Burnout?

Is the California Special Election 2005 edition burning out the voters? The Sacramento Union has this story, Special Election Burnout.

Is there such a thing as too much democracy?

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s determination to get a tighter grip on the state budget and reshape a Legislature known for its political extremes will send California voters to the polls for the fourth statewide election in two years.

The collateral damage might be voters themselves.

The cavalcade of candidates and ballot propositions—dating to the October 2003 election that put Schwarzenegger in office—has left many weary of all that goes with them.

In short, “People are tired,” said Trudy Schafer, a lobbyist for the League of Women Voters of California.

To many voters, “There is a never-ending campaign,” said Democratic consultant Kam Kuwata, who has advised Sen. Dianne Feinstein and former Los Angeles Mayor James Hahn. “People scratch their heads and say, ‘Why are we doing this?’”

This MSM ASSociated Press piece seems to have a bias against a November vote of the people. However, not everyone is against the election.

“I have no patience for folks who say, ‘I have voter-fatigue,’” Fresno Mayor Alan Autry, a fellow Republican, said after Schwarzenegger called the special election last month. “The governor’s trying to solve problems. I fully support him.”

Eight initiatives have qualified for the November ballot, including the governor’s proposals to give him a stronger hand in state spending, redraw congressional and legislative districts and raise the bar for teachers to obtain tenure. The attorney general has since questioned the validity of the redistricting measure after supporters changed the wording of his summary on petitions circulated to get it on the ballot.

Other measures would require minors seeking abortions to get parental approval, reregulate the state’s energy market and lower prescription drug prices.

But that could be just the start. The ballot could become more crowded _ and confusing _ if Schwarzenegger and legislators reach compromises that could place other measures before voters in November.

In a way, the governor could end up campaigning against himself. If he cuts separate deals with legislators, those too could land on the ballot in November. If that was the case, the governor would have to convince voters to reject his initial offerings in favor of the compromises.

“Confusion about issues on the ballot is a considerable barrier for voters in the state,” said Kim Alexander of the California Voter Foundation, an advocacy group. “My fear is people who are burned out may choose to sit home.”

Duhhhhhhhhh and who does better in elections with lower voter turn-out?

Take a guess…….

It is not Bill Lockyer’s party and that is why the California Attorney General is trying to block one initiative from the ballot and the Democrats are feverishly attempting to negotiate the other initiatives away.

Alexander said some of the arcane subject matter—redistricting, for example—could be a voter turnoff. And Schwarzenegger’s willingness to govern through the ballot box, rather than through the Legislature, has placed voters in the awkward position of settling Sacramento political disputes, she said.

“The voters are frequently being asked to come in and mediate. That can be very taxing on voters,” she said.

But others dismiss the notion of voters overwhelmed by democracy. Low turnout is tied to a lack of motivation, not the number of elections, said Curtis Gans, director of the Committee for the Study of the American Electorate.

He said that more than 60 percent of eligible voters cast ballots in the 2004 presidential election, the highest rate since 1968.

“People show up when they think there is something important to decide,” Gans said. “I don’t believe voter fatigue.”

Flap agrees that some of the measures contain very arcane material.

However, when the public knows it counts ………………. they show up.

Look at the recall election!

Corss-posted to The Bear Flag League Special Election Page