California polling stations see light turnout

About 2.4 million voters cast ballots by mail for this election, a fraction of the 13.7 million Californians who voted at polling places and by mail in the November presidential election. (Note: An earlier version of this article stated that 17 million Californians voted at polling places and by mail in the November presidential election.)

Precincts and counties throughout the state were reporting light turnout for an election to decide six state budget propositions that could have a huge impact on the state's fiscal crisis. In Los Angeles, voters are deciding on a new city attorney and council member. And in San Gabriel Valley, a costly and contentious race has unfolded between Democrats Gil Cedillo and Judy Chu, who are running for the 32nd Congressional District seat.

Tonight's results on the California propositions will gauge what polls suggest is voter fury over the failure of the Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and the Democratic-controlled Legislature to balance the state's books. As Californians struggle with joblessness, home foreclosures and sharp losses in the stock market, the state has raised taxes, cut spending and borrowed to fix a $42-billion shortfall -- and still remains more than $15 billion shy of a balanced budget.

Even with the state's budget hanging in the balance, some poll workers said their sites had been all but deserted for long stretches of time.

"Voters have a level of frustration with the complexity of the measures, and I have certainly been asked a lot why voters have to make some of these decisions," Bowen said. People also are tired of having to vote so often, including in special elections, she said.

This is the 12th time voters have gone to the polls statewide in seven years.

"I think voter fatigue is definitely an issue," Bowen said. "I know that getting poll workers was a challenge." She declined to estimate what the statewide turnout would be for this election.

Turnout has varied greatly in special elections, from 36% in 1993 to 50% in 2005, she said.

By noon, voter turnout in Los Angeles County was a mere 6.32%. In a comparable statewide election in 2005, turnout had reached 15.51% by the same time.

In Orange County, turnout was similarly scant at a polling place at Newport Beach City Hall. By 10 a.m., just 18 of 840 registered voters had showed up. But those who did cast votes spoke with defiance and anger about what they viewed as out-of-control spending by state government and an ineffective governor.

"Our Legislature just flat out spends too much money, and it's about time they quit," said Doug White, 71, a retired trucking company owner who came to cast his vote with his wife, Judy. "They spend money faster than we can give it to them."

Tim Safarik, 42, sat down for his daily breakfast with his parents at Bob's Big Boy in Burbank. He had no plans to vote, even though he did during the last election.

When the voter pamphlet arrived in the mail, he said his reaction was, "That voting thing again? Ah, jeez. ... To be honest with you, I'm not even sure what we're voting for."

He said he was not unduly alarmed by dire predictions about the state budget. "I'm sure it's the worst. It's always the worst."

Across town, at the Shenandoah Elementary School polling station in the South Robertson Boulevard area, only 15 voters had shown up in the first 90 minutes. Voters there said they were annoyed that the special election was held at all -- and with a slate of confusing propositions.

"The money they spent for this election was stupid," voter Mary Simon said.

Most voters interviewed said they planned to vote against the propositions, but one, Michael Nance, who works in music marketing and has a daughter attending a public school, said he voted in favor of all the state measures.

"We've all gotten to this place, and I kind of understand everyone's position," he said while casting his ballot in Mt. Washington. But he said budget cutting had hurt his daughter's education to the point that paper and pens were in short supply. "It's a necessity, not a choice, to educate kids."

During a visit to three African American churches in Los Angeles on Sunday, Schwarzenegger tried to rally voters to the polls but acknowledged that he had been told only about 25% of registered voters were expected to cast their ballots.

At stake are six complex state budget-related issues.

Proposition 1A would boost the state's rainy day fund, invoke a spending cap and trigger the extension of recent tax hikes for up to two years. Proposition 1B would begin to restore cuts to schools if 1A is also approved. Proposition 1C would allow officials to borrow $5 billion in state lottery money for general purposes.

Propositions 1D and 1E would transfer money for budget use that currently is set aside for children's and mental health services. Proposition F, the only one that polls show voters leaning toward approving, would ban raises for legislators and state officeholders in years when California runs a deficit.

If voters reject the slate of ballot measures, Schwarzenegger has warned, the budget shortfall could reach $21.3 billion, resulting in severe cuts to education, public safety and healthcare.

patrick. mcgreevy@latimes.com

tony.barboza@latimes.com

Times staff writers Jessica Garrison, Martha Groves, Gale Holland, Carla Rivera, Ann Simmons and Kimi Yoshino contributed to this report.