If You Snooze You Lose

There is considerable speculation about who might or might not vote this November. Some Democrats, distressed by the Clinton-Lewinsky matter, could decide to stay home on election day, Nov. 3, some pundits say. And conservative Republicans who don’t like President Clinton might be energized to vote, others note. Or it could be that Clinton’s troubles will have little effect at all on state and local elections.

Amid these uncertainties is one immutable fact: Unless you are registered to vote in California, you cannot have a say one way or another. Anyone not registered by the end of the business day on Monday cannot vote on Nov. 3.

How do you know if you are registered? If you have voted in any recent election and not changed your name or moved, you are registered. If you have received the voter ballot pamphlet in the mail, you are registered.

If you are in doubt or need information on how to sign up, you can call (800) 345-VOTE. Also, registration forms in either English or Spanish can be downloaded from the secretary of state’s voter registration Web site at www.ss.ca.gov.

All this week, Secretary of State Bill Jones is conducting voter registration promotions throughout California. On Tuesday, he joined with several major supermarket chains to urge citizens to register at grocery stores.Registration cards will be available at check stands of many supermarkets.

Routinely, about 5 million otherwise eligible Californians cannot vote because they are not registered, even though it’s easier than ever. They are depriving themselves of the right to make a choice. There’s much at stake. Make sure you’re registered to vote.