INSIDE INGLEWOOD - Inglewood city clerk Yvonne Horton may have violated a number of laws when she used Inglewood police officers to remove election observers.
In the days following the April 2 election ballot count, a number of residents showed up to fulfill their civic duties. Some residents showed up as early as 7 a.m.
Horton regularly reports for work at approximately 9 a.m. during her four-day work week. Throughout elections week—including Friday, when city hall is normally closed—she was present every day shortly after 7 a.m.
Horton was also observed at city hall late Thursday night on the sixth floor. The sixth floor is where State Senator Rod Wright maintains an office.
Wright was indicted in 2010 on charges of voter fraud and perjury. Wright's trial is set for July 15.
Inglewood residents were present as elections observers for the remaining canvassing activities that led up to the ballot count of April 8.
California state law declares that voters “have the right to ask questions about election procedures and to observe the elections process.”
The elections process was carried out in a small room where only Horton and her staff were allowed to sit. Senior citizens and other observers were not allowed to sit during the days-long elections ballot processing that took place from April 3 until April 5.
On the final day of the elections process, Horton decreed that only four observers at a time were allowed into the room. Despite knowing that observers would be on hand, the city clerk refused to make the process available to more than four people at a time.
The result that was many registered voters wishing to observe the process were blatantly denied their rights. Horton directed Inglewood police officers to remove residents who verbally protested their violated rights. The city clerk’s actions were recorded on video tape.
Horton also refused to answer questions about the elections process. Under state law, voters “have the right to ask questions of the precinct board and elections officials regarding election procedures and to receive an answer or be directed to the appropriate official for an answer.”
Horton did not return phone calls or e-mails requesting a comment.
(Randall Fleming is a veteran journalist and magazine publisher. He has worked at and for the New York Post, the Brooklyn Spectator and the Los Feliz Ledger. He is currently editor-in-chief at the Morningside Park Chronicle, a monthly newspaper based in Inglewood, CA and on-line at www.MorningsideParkChronicle.com)
-cw
CityWatch
Vol 11 Issue 34
Pub: Apr 26, 2013