Ballot Designations

Ballot board designations stir controversy

Kavita Rai Features Editor

Marli Davis News Editor

For most voters, ballot designations are a quick run-down of the candidate; according to California state regulations, ballot designations must be straightforward and accurate.

School board candidates, Angie Simpson and Amy Chen, experienced controversy due to their ballot designation choices. Simpson listed her ballot designation as “mother/ healthcare educator” but later had to change it to “parent/biotech professional” aft er her designation was challenged. Chen’s designation “Education Nonprofi t Director” was also challenged; however, it was ultimately allowed by the Ventura County Elections Division.

Th e Ventura County Elections Division does their own form of background checks and occupation validation for candidates. “Th ere’s certain positions that have certain qualifi cations. So a sheriff for example, you have to have law enforcement experience. A judge, you have to have law experience. So there are requirements associated with various positions. ...When the candidates come in to fi le, any obvious errors that we see on the form are brought to their attention. Th ey are also supplied with a ballot designation worksheet that has to match with their ballot designation,” said a program administrator/public information offi cer at the elections division.

Mary Anne Van Zuyle, director of Conejo Together, was dubious of Simpson’s fi rst alternative choice and challenged her board designation. “I challenged it because I just did not think it fairly represented her vocation,” Zuyle said. Angie Simpson has worked

Important paperwork- This official document from the office of the California Secretary of State is the registration of First Avenue Education, a for-profit tutoring organization, filed Feb. 22, 2016. School board candidate Amy Chen has claimed to be the Chief Financial Officer (CFO), but the paperwork names Jane Wuo as this position. Chen is not listed on the document . California Secretary of State Agency/With Permission

for Amgen in their marketing division and currently works as a “Th ought Liason” at a BioTech fi rm, which could not be clearly defi ned via research.

Looking at each candidate’s ballot designations, Zuyle did not believe “health care educator” was a correct title for Simpson. “(Simpson) is running for school board, and I felt that if you call yourself an educator it can give you a leg-up,” Zuyle said.

In an email to the Panther Prowler, Simpson wrote, “I had a feeling going into fi ling my paperwork that regardless of what I put down as a ballot designation it would be challenged. When I fi led my paperwork, I was encouraged by the clerk that my choices were appropriate.”

Chen’s designation was also challenged by Zuyle; however, aft er having her position verifi ed by Joslynn Lynn, a coworker of Chen, the county elections offi ce decided her designation was valid.

Th e non-profi t organization Chen states she is director of is Top Goal Education, an extension of First Avenue Education which is an organization in Arcadia, CA that provides Chinese language tutoring to students. Chen claims to be the Chief Financial Offi cer (CFO) of First Avenue Education; however, on offi cial documents fi led by the California Secretary of State in February of 2016, Jane Wuo is listed as the CFO of First Avenue Education. Chen’s nonprofi t Top Goal Education has been placed under scrutiny for not having a website, phone number, or public acknowledgment online.

Amy Chen declined to comment on the situation when the Prowler reporter approached her and asked aft er the THRIVE Conejo forum held on September 27, 2018.

Students offered a chance to work the polls

Sarah Lu Photographer

Political tensions are high. Th e next several weeks are vital for both Democrats and Republicans, as the midterm elections this November will determine whether or not Republicans stay in power or Democrats take over the Senate.

Midterm elections for the United States are on Nov. 6, 2018. While not many students can vote due to their age, students can still get involved with the democratic voting process another way- working at the polls.

Steve Johnson, head of the social science department, both acknowledges and promotes this opportunity. “Th e County of Ventura has a special program where students are able to apply, and if they are accepted and go through training, can work on election day,” Johnson said.

Matthew LaRocca, history teacher, explained his understanding of what students do during the day. “You have an opportunity to help check in perspective voters, help fi nd their name in the ledger book, and then possibly hand out ballots to them,” LaRocca said.

Since the election is on a school day, students who participate in the event are excused from school. Additionally, students get a stipend for their work.

Th is opportunity is not a onetime activity, students can work as poll workers any time there is a countywide election.

However, it is not as simple as just showing up on election day and starting to work, there are some requirements for working in the polls. In order to even be considered, volunteers must be at least 16 years old. Th en, an application must be fi lled out.

In addition, “You have to have a 2.5 GPA, you have to be either a U.S. citizen or a permanent resident, you have to have parental and teacher permission and you have to attend a training, and then you are assigned to a polling place on election day,” Johnson said.

Bradley Zienty, senior, worked as a poll worker in June for the primary election.

Training for the event took place in a local library, where Zienty learned how to verify voters’ identities and manage the equipment.

Zienty’s experience working in the polls helped him learn something about the process. “(It) was a good experience because I never really went with my parents to vote…so I decided that I was going to volunteer for a student position and learn more about it,” Zienty said.

Johnson agrees that the event provides a chance to learn about politics. “(Students) are participating in campaigns, we have students who work for various candidates who are excited about voting and being a part of the process, and this is a great way to introduce that.”

LaRocca encourages students to seize this occasion. “You have an opportunity, we’ve told you about it, just go do it.”