Latino Advocate Faults O.C.’s Voter Promotion

The head of a local Latino group Wednesday criticized the registrar of voters for not better publicizing a three-week period before the June primary when new citizens may register to vote.

Amin David, chairman of Los Amigos of Orange County, said the registrar has failed to “adequately inform” immigrants who become citizens between May 5 and 26 that they can register to vote during that period. Election law calls such prospective voters “new citizens.” The registration deadline for the June 2 primary for all other citizens is May 4.

Referring to the yearlong investigation of people who might have registered improperly for the 1996 election, David said, “After all we have been through, it is disheartening that officials still don’t get it” and have failed to “give notice . . . of the new citizen voting procedure period.”

Specifically, David was referring to a calendar of election events printed by the registrar that omits the special registration period for new citizens. The calendar says May 4 is the last day to register for the election.

Deputy Registrar Don Taylor rejected the criticism, noting that the document David cited is intended mainly for candidates and is part of the candidates’ handbook.

In addition, Taylor said that the registrar’s office holds extended weekend hours during the period to accommodate “new citizens” who wish to register and also sends staff with registration materials to swearing-in ceremonies in the county. Los Angeles County registration officials do the same, he said.

“By going to the ceremonies, we are in contact with the people that provision applies to,” he said. “We participate in those ceremonies and have special office hours, but it all depends on how many swearing-in ceremonies take place and if there are any during that period.”

David said the effort by the registrar to contact new citizens at the ceremonies is “kind of loose.”

“We believe something should be printed to that effect so they can tell the public in general,” he said.