Saturday, June 5, 2010

Voter guides missing in San Mateo County

Saturday, June 5, 2010

With just days left before Tuesday's primary election, San Mateo County chief elections officer Warren Slocum knew he should have received his official voter guide from the California secretary of state.

However, Slocum and an untold number of other San Mateo County residents - including more than a dozen former and current elected officials - are still waiting.

"We're getting calls and e-mails from voters who haven't received the state's official voter guide of yet," said Slocum, whose own lack of the pamphlet bolsters his belief that the slipup was widespread.

Consumer advocates such as Richard Holober of the Consumer Federation of California are hopping mad about the delay, arguing that it has the potential to impact the outcome of Tuesday's election, particularly when it comes to ballot propositions.

"You start with a David and Goliath," said Holober, who is part of the very David-like No on 16 campaign. This "takes away our slingshot."

The guides include summaries of the five statewide ballot propositions on Tuesday's ballot, as well as impartial assessments of their impacts, pro and con arguments from the campaigns and statements from statewide candidates.

Submitted by Jim Alex

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