By Daily Press staff
Turnout at one precinct during Tuesday’s primary election was holding steady at about 12 percent at the mid-afternoon point, according to one election official.
“I read somewhere they were expecting 35 percent (turnout),” said Jon VanNess, inspector at the precinct at 17th Street and Wilshire Boulevard. “If we get that, we’re lucky.”
VanNess said the precinct, which is located inside the service department at the W.I. Simonson Inc. Mercedes Benz dealership, usually logs a 50-55 percent turnout. However, VanNess said he was expecting more traffic from people coming home after work.
“Up to now this is the lowest (turnout) I’ve seen,” he said, adding that he is a veteran of six elections.
At about 3:30 p.m., 50 of the precinct’s 150 registered Republicans and 60 of the 400 registered Democrats had voted, VanNess said.
He attributed the difference to the competitive race for the Republican gubernatorial nomination between former Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordan, businessman Bill Simon and Secretary of State Bill Jones.
At the precinct at 2903 Santa Monica Boulevard, Michael Harges, Calvin Crowe and Linda Cooper managed the polls from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Just before noon Crowe said 7 a.m. was the busiest time of the day.
“And since it’s been a steady dribble,” said Harges. “Then there’s an intermediate spurt of people.”
Alena Brown, a UCLA student, rushed into the polling place at 11:40 a.m.
She said decided to vote now and risk being late for class rather than miss the chance to vote.
“I’m the only one of my roommates who votes,” Brown said.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on March 6, 2002. Read the original PDF.