Californians are registered to vote in record numbers but they are shunning election day like the plague -- a curious contradiction and one that needs to be explored.
From the Field Poll: "Despite a record number of Californians registered to vote, the turnout in today’s election will likely include about one million fewer voters than in the last presidential election."
"The Field Poll estimates that 12.75 million Californians will participate in today’s presidential election, down from 13.74 million who voted in 2008."
"However, the number who vote using mail ballots will reach a new high, and will likely be the first statewide general election in which mail ballot votes exceed those cast at local polling precincts."
"According to official estimates the state’s total population is slightly less than 38 million, about 23.8 million of whom are citizens of voting age. Of these, 18.2 million have registered to vote for this year’s election."
Years ago, a chair of the FPPC used the term "money laundering" to describe a multitude of questionable campaign finance violations, but the label didn't really stick. But that was then. Now, with an unprecedented infusion of $11 million into the California election from a disputed Arizona group, the term seems apt, indeed.
From Steve Harmon in the Mercury News: "Ending some but not all of the mystery behind an anonymous $11 million donation, an Arizona group revealed under court order Monday that the money it pumped into California's ballot wars was funneled through two groups -- one tied to David and Charles Koch, the billionaire brothers who have played a huge role in spreading anonymous political cash around the country."
"The two conservative groups, Americans for Job Security and the Center to Protect Patient Rights, are part of a tangled web of so-called dark donors who operate largely out of public view, shielded by their status as nonprofit advocacy groups that are supposedly not involved primarily in politics."
"While the groups have been identified, however, individual donors who have bankrolled them remain a mystery."
Some of the hottest races in the state have been in the Inland Empire, and those contests are going right down to the wire.
From Jim Miller and Ben Goad in the Press Enterperise: "For the first time in a decade, there are multiple House seats in Riverside and San Bernardino counties considered up for grabs Tuesday, Nov. 6. Long protected by gerrymandering, incumbents must seek re-election from new, and in some cases, less favorable districts drawn by an independent commission."
"The redistricting process, which yielded two additional seats in Congress for the region, combined with the retirement of longtime Rep. Jerry Lewis to create a new political landscape. The result: a bevy of contentious races that have attracted millions of dollars from powerful interests across the nation."
"Facing the last hours of a two-year election cycle, candidates darted between events throughout the region in hopes of shoring up key voting blocs."
Speaking of tight races, take a look at Orange County.
From the Register's Martin Wisckol: "Congress are all expected to be re-elected, but the open seat in the new 47th Congressional District is up for grabs. Voter registration in the Long Beach-to-Westminster district favors state Sen. Alan Lowenthal, D-Long Beach, by 9 points. But Republican Gary DeLong, a Long Beach councilman, has outraised his opponent $1.3 million to $980,000."
"The state's top-two open primary has residual fallout throughout the state, including in Orange County's newly drawn 72nd Assembly District, where Republicans Troy Edgar and Travis Allen are battling for turf that stretches from Garden Grove to Huntington Beach."
"Most city council and school board are also holding elections. In one notable race, the 18-year mayor of Santa Ana, Miguel Pulido, faces a strong challenge from Santa Ana Councilman David Benavides. Both men in the nonpartisan race are Democrats, with the Democratic Party of Orange County favoring the challenger."
The state's first election of greenhouse gas credits, a process that was set up by the landmark AB 32 legislation, is scheduled to begin next week. Ultimately, billions of dollars may be involved.
From the LAT's Marc Lifsher: "Starting next week, big polluters will be required to buy pollution credits if they plan to emit greenhouse gases above their allotted levels.
On Nov. 14, the state is scheduled to launch the market-based "cap-and-trade" program of selling pollution credits at auction."
"This year, the program covers about 350 industrial businesses operating a total of 600 facilities throughout the state. They include cement plants, steel mills, food processors, electric utilities and refineries. Starting in 2015, the program will also cover distributors of natural gas and other fuels."
"These businesses have been issued free credits worth 90% of their recent emissions. Now they must either cut their greenhouse gas production to that level or buy credits to make up the difference. Companies that have more credits than they need can sell them at the auction, and the state will sell additional credits as well."
