Issue: Do You Plan to Vote Nov. 3? : Ramon Maglanoc, <i> Los Angeles County retirement fund worker </i>

Yes, I will be voting. If you’re an American citizen, you have to vote. It’s very important. I’ve been here 13 years. I came from the Philippines and most of my friends and relatives here from the Philippines vote. We have a big family--six sisters and two brothers--and we’re not that political. We don’t talk about politics but we vote. I’ve been voting Republican since I started voting, but now I’m voting Democratic. This is the first time (I will) vote as a Democrat because there’s these problems that everyone has. I need change, too, because of the economy.

Myrna Sison, Nurse Yes, I think we need a change. The important issues for me are No. 1, the economic conditions, and second, health care. Right now, what’s happening is a lot of cuts in health care and I don’t think the elderly people deserve this. A lot of hospitals are cutting hours for nurses and increasing most of the workload. Most of the hospitals are understaffed but they’re just as busy or busier, so that’s more work load for the nurses and staff. The reduced hours means less income for my family, so I had to find a second job as a home health care worker where you go into the homes and take care of people, usually the elderly.

Hugh Ramirez, student , Cal State Los Angeles I’m going to vote but I’m disappointed with both choices of candidates. I’m going to vote for (Bill) Clinton only because we need a change. In the last few years, I have not seen any improvement in our community. I voted for Bush the last time but then Bush broke his promise on the taxes. And I think the Persian Gulf War was a mistake because the same people are in power. Maybe Clinton is not the best candidate to be President, but maybe the change will help us. I think he still has a lot to learn as far as Washington goes. He doesn’t have the experience, but Congress is Democratic so maybe he’ll have an easier time getting things through than Bush.

Arlin Slayton, Truck driver Yes, I’m voting. I think it’s something that’s necessary although I dispute the way (the election) is run in the electronic (media) because our votes don’t count. They come out and say, “This is the winner.” I’ve talked to a lot of people who are discouraged from voting because of this. In Los Angeles, our voting is about three hours behind (the East Coast) and at 8 o’clock they announce a winner and our (votes) haven’t even been counted. During the last (presidential) election, it was over 400 miles that I hurried to get back here (to vote) and I said, “What did I break my back for?”