This state election likely to be a snoozer

Voters of California, stifle those yawns.

The June 3 election is nearly two weeks away, and many voters have paid scant attention. It's shaping up to be one of the state's biggest election day snoozers.

For the first time since World War II, California will hold a statewide primary election without a gubernatorial or presidential contest – top-of-the-ticket races that normally drive voter interest and blanket the airwaves with advertisements. The ballot also lacks compelling initiatives on social issues or taxes.

The local region is more interesting because of Sacramento's mayoral race and a hotly contested congressional GOP primary in the Sierra foothills. But elsewhere, the ballot is remarkably thin.

As a result, many candidates are tailoring their messages to the most reliable voters rather than blanketing people who may never show up.

"There just isn't anything driving voters to the polls," said Mark DiCamillo, director of the Field Poll. "Usually candidate races drive people to the polls. Sometimes in the absence of statewide races, controversial propositions generate interest, but those are lacking this time."

Some people say they intend to vote out of civic duty, but they confess they aren't sure what's on the ballot.

Mary Ann Colby, 34, a West Sacramento resident, said she always votes, though she said she hasn't thought much about the June election. She mentioned that she liked West Sacramento Mayor Christopher Cabaldon for what he's done to improve the city, though she was unaware he was running for the Legislature.

"I'm still undecided about a few things," she said. "Honestly, I usually wait until the last minute."

Since World War II, California has conducted only one primary election in each even-numbered year, and each involved a presidential or gubernatorial race.

Lawmakers and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger last year created a third 2008 election and separated the presidential primary from the legislative primary.

That led to the highest California primary turnout by percentage in nearly 28 years in February, thanks to highly competitive presidential races in both major parties.

But it also left the June cupboard bare.

The only two initiatives on the ballot relate to government use of eminent domain procedures to seize property for public purposes. There are intraparty contests in every congressional and Assembly district, as well as some state Senate districts. And then there are a handful of local races, such as the Sacramento mayoral contest.

"Legislative races just don't drive turnout," said Dave Gilliard, a Republican political consultant. "Casual voters do not get excited about choosing their own Assembly member."

Without significant ballot initiatives or statewide candidate campaigns, the airwaves are relatively free of advertising. For better or worse, a barrage of campaign ads normally reminds voters an election looms on the horizon.

Candidates are focusing mail and phone calls on people who have registered to vote permanently by mail. Strategists reason that in a low turnout election, the most likely voters will be those who have a history of participating and who do not have to spend time heading to the polls.

"Candidates are not trying to drive turnout because you can't drive turnout when people don't care," said Andrew Acosta, a Democratic consultant. "They're targeting absentee voters. It's just next to impossible to drag people to the polls if they're not paying attention. Most people wouldn't even know an election is coming if you asked them."

Stephen Weir, president of the California Association of Clerks and Election Officials and registrar in Contra Costa County, predicts roughly one-third of the state's registered voters will participate.

He also believes the June election could have the highest-ever proportion of vote-by-mail involvement. California voters set a record in June 2006 when 46.9 percent were absentee.

"That's because we think so few people are going to go to the polls," Weir said. "I might be wrong and I want to be wrong, but I'm trying to be realistic."

Despite the mayoral race in the capital, even Sacramento County Registrar Jill LaVine said her staff has not been nearly as taxed as it was for the presidential primary. It began mailing out 213,000 June ballots earlier this month.

"We're not too busy (counting) ballots," LaVine said. "The staff is done tracking them by noon. It was more like 6 or 8 o'clock for the February election."

The June election is the 10th statewide contest since 2002, including two highly unusual elections – the 2003 gubernatorial recall and the 2005 special election of eight ballot initiatives.

"The recall was necessary," said German Ossa, 43, a moderate Republican. "But I'd prefer elections be held every two years."

Some voters said they think Californians were asked to decide on too many confusing ballot initiatives, though they don't necessarily think there are too many elections.

"I don't think we understand these propositions," Esparza said.

Still, Ossa, an aviation engineer who commutes to Lincoln, said concerns about rising gas prices and food costs make him more compelled to vote, even if he hasn't decided how.

"I'm seeing everything go up except my pay," he said.

About the writer:

• Call Kevin Yamamura, Bee Capitol Bureau, (916) 326-5548.