Oops! Election Ended Early at 1 Torrance Site

When Tom McClintock and some members of his family tried to vote in the Torrance school board race Tuesday, they found their polling place dark and barred.

Polls were supposed to stay open until 8 p.m. But when McClintock arrived at Magruder Middle School at 7:45, all vestiges of Election Day had vanished.

There were no signs, no flags. The doors were locked, but McClintock tried banging and shaking them. Another would-be voter was also trying the doors. In the end, McClintock and his wife and son gave up and left.

The Magruder poll had closed an hour early by mistake, a spokeswoman for the county registrar said Wednesday after making inquiries.

The election inspector at the school thought voting was supposed to end at 7 p.m., according to spokeswoman Marcia Ventura. “She was confused as to the closing time.”

It was not known how many people were unable to vote as a result. McClintock and any others who could not cast ballots apparently have no recourse because the law makes no provision for voting after the polls officially close at 8 p.m., Ventura said.

McClintock had planned to vote for two challengers. But in Torrance, as in many cities, the incumbents won handily--meaning that McClintock’s vote would not have made a difference.

Even so, McClintock said: “It’s kind of annoying. I would have liked to have voted.”