Working -- Bill Weiss

HE IS

Watching over the voting process

KEEPING AN EYE ON THINGS

The sanctity and integrity of the voting process is a holy thing for

Bill Weiss.

The Newport Beach resident worked his third election last week,

overseeing the polling place at the Newport Bluff Apartment Villas.

Weiss served as the inspector of the polling place, which was in the

clubhouse of the exclusive apartment complex.

He watched over the voting, handed out a list of write-in candidates

for a controversial judicial race and ensured that no one tampered with

the process.

Three clerks worked under him with the same goals.

To safeguard voters, Weiss said he would quickly enforce the law that

prohibits electioneering closer than 100 feet from a polling place.

“You want to let people know that they can vote, that they have their

right to vote,” Weiss said. “We are going to ensure that this right is

given to them without intimidation.”

PUTTING IN A DAY’S WORK

Polling place inspectors aren’t paid much, but Weiss pulled in $170

for a full-day’s work. He arrived at the clubhouse around 6 a.m. to set

up the booths and prepare for the first wave of voters.

The polls opened at 7 a.m. and Weiss was ready with ballots, a voting

box and a roster of names from the surrounding area that were assigned to

that location.

If voters arrived who weren’t on that “roster index,” Weiss gave them

provisional ballots, which the Orange County Registrar of Voters reviews

before they are counted.

Polls closed at 8 p.m., but Weiss’ job wasn’t done. He hand-delivered

the ballots to Santa Ana.

CHIMING IN ON A POLITICAL DRAMA

Weiss, 69, has lived in Newport Beach since 1986. He worked as an

inspector during the 2000 Presidential election and a 1999 local

election.

He worked as a sea captain from 1967 to 1998, when he retired.

Weiss said he agreed with a judge’s ruling on March 2 that required

inspectors to post the list of write-in candidates in the race to unseat

Judge Ronald Kline, who has been indicted on child pornography and

molestation charges.

The 11 write-in candidates who challenged Kline drew 67% support,

forcing the tainted judge into a November runoff.

Story by Paul Clinton; photo by Greg Fry