SIMI VALLEY : Pair Who Tried to Register Finally Put on Voter Rolls

A Ventura County judge on Tuesday ordered that a pair of 19-year-old Simi Valley residents be registered so they can vote on Nov. 3, even though the registration forms they signed in May have not appeared on voter rolls.

At the order of Superior Court Judge Steven Z. Perren, County Clerk Richard Dean registered Jason Lenway and Heather Williams in an unusual move that kept the clerk’s office open past the normal 5 p.m. closing time Tuesday.

“These two citizens did everything they needed to do to obtain the right to vote,” Deputy Dist. Atty. Kevin G. DeNoce told Perren in asking for the order. “They filled out registration cards . . . and through no fault of their own, their registration cards were not entered at the county clerk’s office.”

Perren granted the request, saying that the right to vote is one of the most fundamental rights Americans have. He added, “If you close that out, everything else collapses.”

The Simi Valley couple said it was important to vote in this election, which will be their first.

“I feel very strongly about this election, I’m very strongly for Perot,” Williams said after Perren’s order. “If one vote might break it, and it’s mine, I’d better put it in.”

Lenway, also a Perot supporter, said he dislikes what little he knows about Bill Clinton, and said in reference to President Bush, “we need a change.”

Both said they will have to study the sample ballot this week to make decisions on the other races and state initiatives.

The two learned last week that they were not registered even though they filled out registration forms outside the Target store in Simi Valley in May, giving them to an independent contractor hired by Lee & Associates.

They complained to the district attorney’s office, which is investigating whether their registration forms and those of others were improperly or illegally handled. Both Williams and Lenway kept their registration stubs as proof of registration.

As of late Tuesday, nine more would-be voters--two of whom also filled out forms at the Target store--have come forth to complain that they are not on the voter rolls, said Robert Briner, an investigator for the district attorney’s office.

DeNoce said the agency will work up to 5 p.m. on Election Day to get court-ordered registrations for others who have receipts proving that they registered before the Oct. 5 deadline.