Every day, someone calls the Ventura County Elections Division and demands to know why John McCain, Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton aren't on the sample ballot for Tuesday's election, County Clerk-Recorder Phil Schmit said.

The election workers give callers the answer: California's presidential primary was in February, and the June 3 election is a primary for the other federal, state and local offices. Voters in Ventura County also will decide on four local ballot measures.

Schmit is predicting rock-bottom turnout for this election. He said he expects 20 percent to 22 percent of Ventura County's registered voters to show up on Tuesday or turn in absentee ballots, far below the typical turnout of 35 to 40 percent in most nonpresidential primaries.

"The presidential primary in February just took all the focus away from this election," Schmit said.

According to a report issued Friday by the California Secretary of State's Office, there are more than 392,000 registered voters in Ventura County. Democrats outnumber Republicans by more than 4,000.

Local races

County voters will have the rare chance on Tuesday to select a Superior Court judge. Judges typically retire in the middle of their terms, so their replacements are appointed by the governor.

This year, Superior Court Judge Bruce Clark is stepping aside as his term expires, and there are two candidates to replace him: Jeff Bennett, a deputy district attorney, and Roberto Orellana, a civil attorney for the county.

Three seats on the Board of Supervisors are on the ballot. First District Supervisor Steve Bennett, who represents the Ojai Valley, Ventura and surrounding areas, is opposed only by write-in candidate Jeff Ketelsen of Mira Monte.

In the 3rd District, which includes the Santa Clara River Valley, Camarillo and Port Hueneme, incumbent Kathy Long faces challenger Socorro Lopez-Hanson.

And in the 5th District, which covers the Oxnard area, 32-year incumbent John Flynn is challenged by Oxnard City Councilman John Zaragoza and Denis O'Leary, a teacher and school board member.

If no candidate gets more than 50 percent of the vote, the top two finishers will advance to a run-off in the November general election.

Republicans and Democrats will also elect members of their party's county central committee.

Ballot measures

Voters in Santa Paula and Thousand Oaks will have major land-use measures before them on Tuesday.

In Thousand Oaks, Measure B would require a vote of the people for many large developments, such as a Home Depot store proposed on Hampshire Road.

Santa Paula's Measure G would allow Limoneira Co. to build as many as 1,500 homes on its property east of town.

There are two school tax measures. Measure C in Oak Park would extend a $197-per-parcel tax for another eight years. It requires the approval of two-thirds of the voters, and would raise close to $1 million a year for Oak Park schools.

The Mesa Union School District in Somis has placed a $4 million bond measure on the ballot. It requires 55 percent approval, and would cost property owners $29 per $100,000 of assessed value each year.

There are also two statewide propositions, both dealing with eminent domain, the process by which a government agency can force a landowner to sell property.

Proposition 98 would eliminate almost all use of eminent domain if it is used to transfer property to another private owner; it would also invalidate rent-control laws.

Proposition 99 places lighter restrictions on eminent domain and would not affect rent control.

If both state measures pass, the one that gets a higher percentage of the vote will go into effect.

Federal and state offices

Rep. Elton Gallegly, R-Simi Valley, faces a primary challenge from Republican lawyer Michael Tenenbaum in the GOP primary in the 24th District.

Competing for the Democratic nomination in the 24th District are Mary Pallant, an Oak Park political activist; Jill Martinez of Oxnard, the 2006 nominee; and Marta Jorgensen of Solvang.

The 23rd State Senate District features one of California's most hotly contested primaries, between Democrats Lloyd Levine and Fran Pavley. Leonard Lanzi and Rick Montaine are the Republican candidates.

In the 37th Assembly District, where Republican Audra Strickland is the incumbent, Democrats David Hare and Ferial Masry will compete for the right to face Strickland in the fall.

What's on the ballot

The California primary is Tuesday. Federal, state and local offices will be on the ballot, along with two state ballot measures and local measures in four Ventura County communities.

Polling places will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. To find your polling place, consult your sample ballot. If you do not have one, visit http://recorder.countyofventura.org/elections.htm, or call the Elections Division at 654-2781.

Rights of voters

California Secretary of State Debra Bowen lists the rights of voters in the Official Voter Information Guide for Tuesday's election. You have the right to:

1. Cast a ballot if you are a valid registered voter.

2. Cast a provisional ballot if your name is not listed on the voting rolls.

3. Cast a ballot if you are present and in line at the polling place prior to the close of polls.

4. Cast a secret ballot free from intimidation.

5. Receive a new ballot if, prior to casting your ballot, you believe you made a mistake.

6. Receive assistance in casting your ballot if you are unable to vote without assistance.

7. Return a completed vote-by-mail ballot to any precinct in the county.

8. Receive election materials in another language, if there are sufficient residents in your precinct to warrant production.

9. Ask questions about election procedures and observe the election process. However, if persistent questioning disrupts the execution of their duties, elections officials may discontinue responding to questions.

10. Report any illegal or fraudulent activity to local elections officials or the Secretary of State's office.

Options for decline-to-state voters

- If you did not select a political party when you registered to vote, some of the political parties will still allow you to vote for their candidates. You can request a ballot of any political party that has notified the secretary of state that it will permit decline-to-state registered voters to help nominate their candidates. You may not request more than one party's ballot.

- The following political parties will permit decline-to-state voters to request one of their party's ballots: American Independent Party, Democratic Party, Republican Party.

n If you do not request a specific ballot, you will be given a nonpartisan ballot containing only ballot measures and the names of candidates for nonpartisan offices.

— Source: Secretary of State's Official Voter Information Guide