Secretary of State Bowen: Why You Should Vote in Tuesday’s California Primary Election and How You Can Participate

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

In this week’s Democratic weekly radio address, California Secretary of State Debra Bowen urges all registered voters to vote in next Tuesday’s primary election and provides resources voters can use if they have questions or experience difficulties.

You may listen or read the transcript below.

Hello, I’m Secretary of State Debra Bowen, California’s chief elections officer.

Tuesday is Election Day in California, our second of three statewide elections in 2008. The polls open at 7:00 a.m. on Tuesday and they close at 8:00 p.m. I encourage everyone who is registered to get out and vote!

On Tuesday, we will pick the party nominees for Congress, state Senate, and state Assembly – and consider two ballot initiatives. In some areas, the ballot will also include local contests for county supervisor, mayor, school board, and other offices.

The candidates we select will make crucial decisions that shape our lives. They will determine the amount of money that goes to our neighborhood schools, to law enforcement – and even how we recycle and how often our trash is picked up.

It’s critical that Californians of every background have a say in these choices.
Here are a few things to consider before you go to the polls:

First … Read up before you vote. You can get information about the candidates and the issues by reading my office’s nonpartisan Voter Information Guide at www.sos.ca.gov. Also check out the sample ballot information sent by your county elections official.

Second … Know your crossover voting rights. If you are registered as a “decline-to-state” or nonpartisan voter, in this election cycle the American Independent, Democratic, and Republican parties will let you participate in their primaries. You have a right to request a ballot for any one of these three parties. If you do not, you will receive a nonpartisan ballot that only contains ballot propositions and nonpartisan local races.

Third … Know when and where to vote. All California polling places will be open on Tuesday from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.