Large turnout expected as Californians face massive ballot

[NVMojo]

(11-02) 11:51 PST LOS ANGELES (AP) --

California voters appeared to be heading to the polls in big numbers Tuesday to decide a slew of ballot initiatives ranging from stem cell research to open primaries, while likely handing Democrat John Kerry his biggest electoral prize.

About 16.5 million voters registered for this year's election -- 800,000 more than signed up for the 2000 presidential election -- the state's previous record. The secretary of state's office expected 73 percent of them to cast ballots.

The highest percentage turnout in California history was 88.3 percent in November 1964, when Lyndon Johnson was elected president.

more...

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/news/archive/2004/11/02/politics0317EST0015.DTL

[drmom]

1. It was huge! 8 pages here in a suburb of S.F.

[barb162]

4. I know people i n SF and Menlo Park and they always talk about

being in the polling booth a long time with the initiatives. when are you guys turning out Arnie?

[proud patriot]

2. Totally huge

so many things to vote on . I'm in a suburb
of SF also ...

[brook]

3. One volunteer...

told me that 32 people were on line when they opened this morning. I live in a small CA (10,000) town. I heard that 1000 from my precinct had already voted and they are expecting the crowd to surge this evening. I also saw a half dozen young faces for the first time ever. I am so proud of the people!

Can you say:"Kerry Landslide"!?

[olddad56]

5. at my place to vote in Sacramento...

It was pleasant, but different. The lines were out the door. First time I had seen that. I think that was due to the heavy turnout and the fact that the ballots take longer to fill out because they us a scanner now. The old punch ballots were better. The only thing that I didn't like was this narcissistic guy who was running the show. He had on a tee-shirt that said PRAY,VOTE,PRAY. I didn't think it was appropriate. I guess because I have an impression of most people who wear their religion on their sleeve as being right wingers. I just thought it blurred the separation between church and state. This guy was a jerk. One of those comedians who aren't funny.

[maveric]

6. About 22" long by 9" wide, two sides.

Optical scan.

[Robbie67]

7. 32 state and local props in San Francisco

that doesn't count the 5 or 6 other things to vote on

[Peter1x9]

8. I hated being bombarded by all the initiatives and propositions

when I lived in California.

We didn't have a single one of them today in my area of the Chicago suburbs. It took me all of a minute to fill out my ballot. It was a full page on the front and just three judges on the back. (Optical Scan)