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Politics

Some Calif. Voters Disappointed Marijuana Not On June Ballot

A woman votes at a polling place in California, 2010.
Justin Sullivan / Getty Images
A woman votes at a polling place in California, 2010.

Apparently some California voters came to the polls Tuesday hoping to vote on an issue that wasn’t on the ballot this time: the legalization of pot for recreational use.

Steve Hansen, a precinct inspector at a downtown Sacramento polling place, said things have been pretty smooth – but a handful of voters weren’t very well-informed about what was on the ballot.

“A lot of people today have, interestingly, thought the marijuana legalization intuitive is on the ballot, so that’s produced some turnout and they go to vote and they come and they say, 'I thought this was on the ballot but it’s not there.”'

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The measure that would legalize, regulate and tax marijuana for recreational use is on the November ballot.

Hansen said a lot of voters who were new in November of 2008 have been coming back to vote in Tuesday's primary.

The polling place where Hansen works is in a high-density area near many state buildings, and he said turnout has been pretty decent.