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California recall poll put off over punch cards

By Sridhar Krishnaswami

Washington Sept. 16. Major candidates in the California Governor recall election have vowed to continue campaigning for the October 7 poll even as a Federal Court has postponed the ballot with the prospect of the election coming some five months down the road.

The Circuit Court of Appeals ruled unanimously that the use of punch card ballots in six counties would disenfranchise thousands of voters. The counties that would include Los Angeles — the State's most populous — are said to have accounted for some 44 per cent of the registered voters in the 2000 election.

The court did not set a firm date but might opt for March 2, 2004 — the date of the State's presidential primary — as suggested earlier by the American Civil Liberties Union.

It stayed its ruling for a week to allow appeals to the Supreme Court which many groups are planning to do.

The Republican candidate, Arnold Schwarzenegger, took a swipe at the ruling saying that the decision impacted on thousands of voters who signed the recall petition. "With this ruling, you risk disenfranchising voters. Does this serve the interests of democracy or the general public?" a spokesman for the Hollywood star asked.

Analysts say a postponement until next March is bound to benefit the Governor, Gray Davis, who is at the centre of this recall storm; and for two reasons. First, a presidential primary will bring out a large number of Democrats to the polls; and it gives Mr. Davis extra time to tighten up the act on the budget crisis front.

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