| AB 1413 makes "technical changes" to election law
by Brian Leubitz
A bill by Asm. Paul Fong would eliminate the write-in line on the "general" election ballot next November. From Ballot Access News:
On January 10, at 1:30 p.m., the California Senate Elections Committee will hear AB 1413. The bill abolishes write-in space on general election ballots for Congress and partisan state office. It also makes various other technical changes that will alter the top-two system passed by the voters in June 2010, when they approved Proposition 14 by a 53.7-46.3% margin.
Existing law says the ballot should contain write-in space, but that write-ins cannot be counted. It is wildly irrational for the existing law to leave write-in space on the ballot and yet say they can never be counted. There are two obvious ways to fix this: either repeal the law that says write-ins can't be counted; or change the law to eliminate write-in space on ballots. The author of AB 1413, Assemblyman Paul Fong, has chosen the more repressive choice. (Ballot Access News)
Clearly we don't need to have a line on the ballot that we aren't going to count. And you can understand the logic that since we are doing a "top-2" election system we don't need that line. The proponents of Prop 14, certainly argue as much. However, what if there are changed situations which make the two candidates unacceptable. It gives no opportunity to change our minds from June to November. So...recall it is then?
Anyway, it is an interesting question to consider as you enjoy some unseasonably warm weather. |
