Compromise Sought on Eligibility Threatening Some Voters

Legislation drafted to clear up legal problems threatening the eligibility of some newly registered voters to cast ballots in the June 3 primary Thursday was sent to a conference committee for compromise after being rejected by minority Assembly Republicans.

The bill failed on a 41-30 vote. It needed 54 votes, or two-thirds of the lower house, to pass because it was drafted as urgency legislation designed to take effect in time for the primary.

Both Democrats and Republicans agreed after the vote that they thought a compromise could be worked out in a conference committee of the Senate and Assembly.

Assembly Republican Leader Pat Nolan of Glendale, who led the opposition, said he was in agreement with some features of the bill, including those that would not bar someone from voting if the citizen left a middle name or initial off his or her voter registration affidavit.

But Republicans indicated they feared the measure contained a “hidden” Democratic agenda. Democrats denied it. Some Republicans have speculated that the measure, as now written, might undermine recent GOP voter registration efforts.

The bill, by Assemblyman Johan Klehs (D-San Leandro), was drafted to prevent disenfranchisement of those who left off middle initials, occupations or other information required on voter registration forms.

There are no reliable estimates of precisely how many voters would be barred from voting if the legislation is not passed in time for the primary. But some election officials have speculated the number statewide could be as high as 300,000.

County officials say it could affect as many as 33% of all voters who have registered since Feb. 20. That was the date when Secretary of State March Fong Eu issued an order to county election officials telling them they must start following the letter of the law, meaning they should correct or reject incomplete registration forms.

Rather than voiding such registrations, the Klehs bill would establish a series of presumptions, such as a provision saying that if a person did not put down a middle initial, it is presumed the applicant didn’t have one.