Confusing Ballots Won’t Be Reprinted, Officials Say : Election: Punch-card fluke raises worries that supporters of Proposition 187 might vote for smoking measure, prompting calls for a revision.

Local election officials are under fire for issuing what critics say is a confusing ballot that could adversely affect at least two statewide propositions, but the officials said Wednesday the ballots would not be reprinted because that could cost millions and possibly delay voting.

“Because of the limited time frame, (if) we would have to try and reprint the ballots, it would be virtually impossible without severely jeopardizing the orderly conduct of the election,” said Marcia Ventura, spokeswoman for the registrar-recorder’s office. “The indications are, we couldn’t do it in time.”

The county uses a computer-generated numbering system that assigns each “yes” and “no” hole a number. The controversy surrounds the numbering of the “yes” and “no” votes for Proposition 188, a smoking-related measure primarily funded by tobacco giant Phillip Morris USA.

On most of the county’s punch-card ballots, each hole is numbered, and by pure coincidence, a “yes” vote on Proposition 188 is hole number 187; a “no” vote is hole number 188.

Opponents of the smoking initiative worry that supporters of Proposition 187, which seeks to deny illegal immigrants public schooling, social services and most health care, might inadvertently vote for Proposition 188.

“This is not a mistake to take lightly,” said Paul Knepprath, a spokesman for the Coalition for a Healthy California, the campaign against Proposition 188. “This is something that can confuse voters and lead them to vote in a way they don’t want to.”

Proposition 188 foes want the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors to order the registrar-recorder’s office to renumber the ballots to avoid confusion. The board listened to their pleas Tuesday but took no action on the request. The group plans to renew their demands next week, members said.

Acting Secretary of State Tony Miller told the board that he felt the ballots could be confusing. However, Miller declined to predict how the county ballots might affect the results of the Nov. 8 election. Under state law, it is up to local officials to decide whether to rectify the situation.

County election officials contend that the fluke poses no serious problem.

“Based on our past experience, we don’t think this will be confusing for voters,” said Ventura, adding, “To put on an election in an election year costs about $12 million, and the ballots are a good part of that.”