More than half of Yorba Lindans cast mail-in votes; they can start marking ballots next week

The growing number of Yorba Lindans who vote by mail will begin marking ballots for the Nov. 8 general election soon after Oct. 10, the date mail-in ballots are scheduled to be delivered to the post office for mailing by the county Registrar of Voters.

Mailed ballots can be received up to three days after the election if they are signed and dated by Nov. 8. The ballots also can be taken to the registrar's office in Santa Ana through Nov. 8 or left at any precinct on election day. Last day to apply for a regular vote-by-mail ballot is Nov. 1.

At last count, 23,750 of Yorba Linda's 40,643 registrants – nearly 58 percent – are permanent mail-in voters, a figure that's increased steadily since the state first allowed permanent vote-by-mail status in 2002. In the June primary, 60 percent of the votes cast in Yorba Linda were by mail.

Although registration continues until Oct. 24 (new citizens can register up until the polls close), this city's total voter registration lags far behind the 45,494 who populated the voter rolls in the 2012 presidential election.

The current standings: 22,276 Republicans (54.8 percent); 9,016 Democrats (22.2 percent); 7,864 no party preference (19.3 percent); and 1,487 for miscellaneous parties (3.7 percent).

Roadway campaign signs always draw attention with reports of sign-stealing and vandalism. Some residents see the signs as evidence of a vibrant democracy, while others decry clutter. And candidates often ignore specific zoning rules when posting them on public rights-of-way.

In a recent email, homeowners' association president and 2014 City Council candidate Judy Murray notes the Yorba Linda Boulevard and Yorba Ranch Road corner as “a very desirable location” for signs.

But, she says, the 218-home Rancho Dominguez Community Association “will be enforcing our CC&Rs and will not allow campaign signs on our perimeter landscape.”

I also received an email from former schools superintendent Doug Domene, now dean of the college of education at Hope International University. He's “disturbed by the misleading signs three of the school board candidates have placed around the city.”

He writes, “The signs have a tag line that says 'Save Prop. 13.' This is so misleading. Any changes to the current tax law do not fall under the purview of a school board.”

Voters can still enter the non-partisan council, water director and school trustee contests as write-in candidates by registering with the county elections office, 1300 S. Grand Ave., Building C, Santa Ana, through Oct. 25.

Write-in votes won't be counted or recorded unless candidates register. Write-ins aren't allowed in the partisan races, for which candidates were nominated in the June primary.

And in response to last week's column, Lysa Ray emailed: “Thanks for the mention. I just wanted to let you know I am neither a political consultant nor an adviser. . . I am just a political treasurer.”