Mark R. Madler
Residents cast their votes in greater numbers for Tuesday's general
election after a disappointing showing in the February primary.
With all precincts reporting, 11,498 voters returned ballots in
the election for two seats on the City Council and two spots on the
Burbank Unified School District board.
That number easily eclipsed the 10,376 cast in the primary and the
9,059 cast in the 2003 general election.
There were 48,792 ballots sent out to registered voters in the
city.
The primary and general elections this year were the first by the
city done via all-mail ballot. The City Council switched election
methods to increase voter participation.
For the general election, the number of election workers verifying
ballots went from seven to 14, and the number of workers canvassing
ballots -- sorting them by precinct and inspecting them for damage --
went from six to 12, City Clerk Margarita Campos said.
Also helping smoothen process this time around was that fewer
people were forgetting to sign the envelope that the ballot is
returned in, Campos said.
"They've been exceptionally good about that this time," she added.
Campos, a firm believer in the all-mail method because of its
safeguards against fraud, will discuss continuing the process at a
future meeting with the City Council.
Resident Robert Idavia, who was at City Hall waiting for returns,
said he likes the all-mail ballot for the ease and convenience and
hopes the city will continue using it.
"Burbank has a lot of senior citizens, and [the mail-in ballot] is
a lot more conducive to them," he said.
