NEW ELECTION LAWS

Governor Jerry Brown (D) signed into law a slew of measures last week, some of which will change how elections are conducted.

The new laws will:

·         Allow for online voter registration, no later than Jan. 1, 2012.

·         Alter the new citizen voter registration process, allowing new citizens to register and vote until the close of polls on Election Day. Previously, new citizens had to register at least seven days prior to Election Day.

·         Remove permanent vote by mail voters from the list of qualified permanent vote by mail voters if those voters fail to vote in four consecutive statewide general elections. Previously, voters were removed from the list if they failed to vote in two consecutive statewide general elections.

·         Allow write-in votes to be counted, even if the box next to the write-in blank is not bubbled in. Previously, if voters had written in a name but failed to mark the appropriate box, the vote would be considered an “undervote” and would not be counted.

·          Allow only vote-by-mail ballots in Yolo County, other than in statewide primary or general elections or special elections to fill a vacancy in a state office, the Legislature or Congress. The change will be conducted as a trial through 2017.

Nov. 8 Election Candidates

* As of Tuesday

Turlock Irrigation District

2 Directors

       Division 1 (Frantz)                                             

·         Michael Frantz – Farmer/Businessman (Appointed Incumbent) 

       Division 4 (Santos)

·         Rob Santos – Veterinarian (Incumbent)

Denair Municipal Advisory Council

2 Council Members (Zumstein, Findley)

·         Cheryl Zumstein – Appointed Incumbent

·         Dennis R. Findley – Incumbent

Keyes Municipal Advisory Council                                                 

3 Council Members (Alexander, Landers, Reed)

·         Davie Landers Jr. – Incumbent

·         William Alexander – Incumbent

·         Jeff Reed – Incumbent

Chatom Union School District

2 Board Members (Soderstrom, Costa)

·         Steve Soderstrom – Incumbent

Denair Unified School District                                                                        

3 Board Members (Day, Brown, Ellis)

·         John E. Plett – Retired Law Enforcement

·         Carolyn D. Brown – Incumbent

Keyes Union School District

2 Board Members (Marchant, Edwards)

·         Bob Edwards – Incumbent

Hughson Unified School District

2 Board Members (Harman, Hudelson)

·         Mark Harman – Business Owner (Incumbent)

·         James Hudelson – Incumbent

Turlock Unified School District

District Area Shared With Merced County

4 Board Members (Sims, Hamilton, Holt, Lima)

·         Eileen Hamilton – Incumbent

·         Frank M. Lima – Incumbent

1 Board Member – Short Term (Muniz)

·         Tami Harril-Muniz – Appointed Incumbent

Denair Community Service District

3 Directors (McDonald, Allen, Curnow)

·         Ronald C. Allen – Incumbent

·         T. J. McDonald – Incumbent

·         Karl F. Curnow – Incumbent

Keyes Community Service District

2 Directors (Chadwick, Grewal)

·         William Alexander – No Designation

·         Casey Chadwick – Incumbent

·         Mike Bernal – Campus Safety Officer

1 Director – Short Term (Parker)

·         Jonathan Parker – Appointed Incumbent

Hughson Fire Protection District

3 Directors (Voss, Serpa, Absher)

·         David S. Absher – Incumbent