In Presidential Race, League Is Taking the Polls Position

Come election day, you are planning to vote. You really are. But first you have to get the children off to school. And there’s the dry cleaning to pick up on your lunch hour. After work, it’s either shopping for dinner or taking your oldest to her soccer game. We always have these great intentions about voting. But sometimes we just let the day get in the way.

The League of Women Voters has done a national study on why people don’t vote. “It’s really not frustration with the system,” said Marilyn Dettman of the league’s Central Orange County chapter. “We found that people don’t vote if they live or work in an environment where other people don’t vote. It takes about three good reminders to get them to the polls.”

The League of Women Voters is determined to get us to the polling booth this presidential election. The Central Orange County chapter has received a small grant from the national organization to help with a get-out-the-vote campaign. It will hold a kickoff rally for community leaders Sept. 19 at 1132 St. John Place in Santa Ana. It’s not a public event, but you could let them know if you want to attend.

The league has four chapters covering Orange County, all of them campaigning to get people to vote. If you aren’t familiar with the League of Women Voters’ work, it’s a nonprofit, nonpartisan group that specializes in holding candidate forums and educating voters about elections--anything to get people interested in the political process.

“We intend to make sure that more people vote in the November 1996 election than ever before,” Dettman said.

Actually, Orange County didn’t do too badly in the last presidential election. About 79% of those eligible turned out to vote (the Clinton-Bush year), compared with just 60% in 1988 (Bush-Dukakis).

But the League of Women Voters says that voter turnout is often low among the young and among minority groups--as low as 34% in some neighborhoods in the county. It began its campaign last year targeting the Korean American community. This year, it has widened the effort to try to improve the number of Vietnamese and Latino voters. The county registrar of voters office has a campaign to increase the number of precinct officers who speak Vietnamese, to make it more comfortable for Vietnamese Americans who want to vote.

The first step for anyone in voting, of course, is to be registered. If you haven’t registered, here’s an important date to mark down: Oct. 7. That’s the last day you can register and still vote in the Nov. 5 election.

For those who just can’t find the time to go register, the state of California makes it really easy for you. Just call this number: (800) 345-8683. That’s the secretary of state’s office. It will send you a preaddressed voter form to mail back. It even puts on the stamp for you. There’s no lengthy wait on hold when you call, either. I tried the number and found you can take care of business quickly.

Badge of Courage? I love those here’s-how-he-proposed tales.

At a recent graduation ceremony for the Criminal Justice Training Center at Golden West College, Helen Walsh was supposed to pin a badge on boyfriend Daniel Lund, one of the 26 graduates. When she finished, the emcee asked Lund if he had anything to add. He did: He dropped to one knee and proposed to her--in front of 360 people.

Lund, of Huntington Beach, ever the proper officer, had asked academy officials for permission first. They said yes--and so did she.

Poetry in Motion: If you’re one of those passionate about poetry, here’s a chance for you to try yours out on the public.

The fifth annual Factory Poetry Contest will be held Monday night at Koo’s Arts Cafe at 1505 N. Main St. in Santa Ana. The first 15 people to sign up after 6:30 p.m. get to perform.

“Our motto is: Anything goes, as long as it’s good,” said Lee Mallory, who teaches poetry at Rancho Santiago College and is one of the organizers.

There’s a $35 prize for first place--meaning the judges thought you did the best job of meeting their criteria for good poetry. But there’s also a $35 first-place prize based on a popular vote of the audience.

“We’ve had some exceptional poetry in the past,” Mallory said. “But it’s high intensity; you’re judged on content, rhythm and imagery.”

Leave your favorite Robert Frost verses at home. Contestants are required to read only their own work.

Wrap-Up: This is Rosalyn Lever’s first presidential election as Orange County registrar of voters, but far from her first election: She’s been at this for 24 years.

This year is particularly busy, she says, because with the California primary in March, “we just go from one election right into another.”

She puts out this reminder: A lot of people move around in Orange County and fail to realize that means they need to reregister to vote. Forms are available at your local post office, most libraries, or your city clerk’s office--1,800 locations in all in Orange County.

On this voting business, don’t let failure to know the location of your polling place stop you. Call either local Republican or Democratic headquarters in late October and they’ll be glad to help. They’ll even draw you a map, if that’s what it takes to get you there.

Jerry Hicks’ column appears Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Readers may reach Hicks by calling the Times Orange County Edition at (714) 966-7823 or by fax to (714) 966-7711, or e-mail to jerry.hicks@latimes.com