Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder-Elections

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 27, 2006

Contact:
Warren Slocum
Chief Elections Officer & Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder
Phone: (650) 363-4988 Fax: (650) 363-1903 E-mail: wslocum@smcare.org
Web: www.shapethefuture.org www.smcare.org

Alternate: David Tom, Phone: 650.312.5222 E-mail: dtom@smcare.org

Decline to State Voters are Reminded of Their
Right to Request a Partisan Ballot:

Certain Parties Allow DTS Voters to Vote in Their Party Primaries

(Redwood City, CA) - San Mateo County’s top election official, Warren Slocum, today reminded registered Decline to State (DTS) voters about how to request partisan ballots for the June 6th Primary Election.

Approximately 22% percent of San Mateo County’s 350,305registered voters are now registered as Decline to State (DTS). “These voters have the right to choose an American Independent, Democratic, Republican or Decline to State non-partisan ballot – whether they vote by mail, at a Universal Center or at the polls on Election Day,” Slocum said.

DTS voters may vote in the American Independent, Democratic or Republican primaries. Slocum explained that these three parties voted to allow DTS voters to be able to cast ballots in their primaries. “If a DTS voter chooses one of these three parties’ ballots, they may vote for all of the candidates except those running for party central committees,” said Slocum. The Green, Libertarian, Natural Law and Peace and Freedom parties do not allow Decline to State voters to vote in their primaries. Decline to State voters who do not request a partisan ballot will be given a non-partisan ballot that contains only the non-partisan candidates and the ballot measures.

On Election Day, DTS voters may request a partisan ballot when they sign the roster before entering the voting booth. Voters who request an absentee ballot must indicate on the application form which ballot they are requesting or they will be sent a non-partisan ballot. Voters requesting an absentee ballot must submit their request to the Elections office by Tuesday, May 30, 2006.

The number of DTS voters in California counties continues to grow. For example, in 1994, just over 10% of California’s voters were registered as Decline to State. Since the 2002 60-day report of registration, the number has increased 4% from 14.7% to 18.3%. This is an increase of 613,351 voters.

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