Are Californians smart enough to be able to vote in the coming recall election?

To the Editor:

Today's headline in the Oakland Tribune read, "Ballot plays hide, seek with voters." The accompanying article goes on to assert that voters will be confused and frustrated by the October 7 recall election ballot. Poppycock. Stuff and nonsense. This election ballot will be simplicity itself. In the first top section, the voter will decide to vote "yes" or "no" to recall Governor Gray Davis. In the second part the voter will select one (1) candidate as a replacement Governor.

I suppose that these scare story newspaper headlines are only designed to sell the daily rag, but it seems a little offensive to assume that the typical voter is too stupid or too confused to understand this recall election ballot.

Maybe California voters should consider election ballots as a variation on the high school proficiency test that they never got a chance to take.

Yours truly,

James K. Sayre

12 August 2003