“The questions on the ballotSouth Whidbey voters will face two local questions in the polling booth next Tuesday.* South Whidbey School District two-year maintenance and operation excess leviesFor maintenance and operation purposes, shall South Whidbey School District No. 206 be authorized to levy taxes in excess of all regular property tax levies in the District in the amount of $3,027,257 in 2000, collectible in 2001, estimated at $1.54 per $1.000 assessed value, and an amount of $3,148,348 in 2001, collectible in 2002, estimated at $1.54 per $1,000 assessed value, as provided in South Whidbey School District No. 206 Resolution No. 397?* South Whidbey Park and Recreation District general obligation bonds, $1,450,000To acquire land, construct sports fields and trails, repay a loan, and make other infrastructure improvements, shall the South Whidbey Park and Recreation District be authorized to issue $1,450,000 of general obligation bonds payable out of annual property tax levies in excess of regular tax levies and any constitutional or statutory tax limitations, maturing within 20 years, all as provided in South Whidbey Park and Recreation District Resolution No. 2000-01?Presidential choicesHere are the names that will appear on the presidential preference primary ballot next Tuesday. Some candidates have dropped out, but too late to change the ballot listings.Democratic ballotBill Bradley, Al Gore, Lyndon LaRouche, Jr.Republican ballotGary Bauer, George W. Bush, Steve Forbes, Orrin Hatch, Alan Keyes, John McCain.Unaffiliated ballot All candidates from both parties.When South Whidbey voters go to the polls next Tuesday, they’ll see some familar national names along with two important local issues.That’s because the state’s presidential preference primary will be held the same day, asking voters their favorites in the race for U.S. President.Meanwhile, the ballot will include a two-year maintenance and operation levy from the South Whidbey School District, as well as a $1.45 million bond issue proposal from the South Whidbey Park and Recreation District.As a result, there could be some confusion, particularly regarding the presidential primary. Island County Auditor Suzanne Sinclair has already seen some of that confusion as absentee ballots sent out two weeks ago flow back into her office.The presidential primary is different because voters are asked to declare themselves either a Democrat, a Republican, or unaffiliated. The Democrat candidates are listed on the Democrat ballot, the Republicans on the Republican ballot, and both on the unaffiliated ballot.The presidential primary is mostly a beauty contest. State Republican leaders have said one-third of their delegates to the national convention will be based on the election outcome. But Democrats say the traditional caucus system will select all of their delegates. Party caucuses will be held March 7.Judging by absentee ballots returned to date, many people don’t want their party preference known, according to Sinclair. There’s a place on the absentee envelope where this declaration is supposed to be marked.We’ve had 500 ballots returned without declaration, Sinclair said. People don’t like putting it outside the envelope in front of God and everybody. She’s passing on such comments to the Secretary of State, hoping changes will be made in the 2004 presidential primary.Washington voters have a long history of independence and have never had to declare a party preference, except in the two previous presidential primaries in 1992 and 1996. Those proved hugely unpopular statewide, where only 25 percent of voters participated, and particularly in Island County, where each election drew only about 13 percent of registered voters to the polls.Sinclair said the rising use of absentee ballots almost guarantees a higher turnout this year. About one-third of Island County voters automatically receive an absentee ballot each election.Here’s how the voting process will work at South Whidbey polling places:* Voters will sign their names in the poll book, as is always the case.* Then they will be asked to initial one of three oaths, declaring themselves a Republican, Democrat or unaffiliated.* Once the oath is initialed, they will be given the appropriate ballot. All three ballots will include the local school and parks issues.Sinclair said voters who decline to declare their party preference will simply be given an unaffiliated ballot. They won’t be required to initial the party oaths, although that means their votes won’t be counted in the presidential primary. However, their votes on the schools and parks issues will be counted.The oaths will be a matter of public record for 30 days, giving Democrats and Republicans a chance to look at the poll books and find out which voters lean their way. The parties benefit from a mailing list, that’s what they’re after, Sinclair said.Lisa Bjork, superintendent of South Whidbey schools, expressed some concern that confusion over the presidential primary could interfere with the school levy election. It creates another variable in the election process, she said. While the community has been supportive of what she calls a replacement levy, not a new tax, she is worried about the low voter turnout in previous presidential primaries.Both the school and parks levies require 60 percent voter approval to pass, and the minimum voter turnout requirement is 40 percent of those who voted in the last general election.”