Tension is Building for the November 3 Ballot the People’s Debate May Answer Some Questions!

HERE IT IS!!! The “People’s Debate” sponsored by AARP Virginia and League of Women Voters of Virginia. Gubernatorial Candidates will respond to questions from the moderator AND those supplied by citizens through an online component! Locally, people will want to tune in to either CBS WDBJ-7 or Blue Ridge PBS Channel WBRA-15 at 8PM on October 12, 2009. This is a great opportunity to really see who these candidates are and learn what their goals are for our state.

Do not forget though that along with the State elections, there are local elections and issues that will be on your ballot election day. The Town of Blacksburg will be selecting 3 official (and 1 sort of unofficial) Town Council members. The Town of Christiansburg will be deciding if they wish to move the Town elections from May to November (saving about $5000/election of taxpayer money).

Now, let us take a look at some data that might help explain why tension levels are also high at the local levels. First, the obvious unknown:

All of those incumbents in Blacksburg and those officials in Christiansburg that do not want to see elections moved to November have got to be wondering how all of those new voters are likely to vote.

Now for some numbers that tend to get lost during those post election celebrations:

Those individuals who either did not bother to vote at all or did not find suitable candidates and did not vote for all of the positions that were open may be sending a message to candidates. I would be wondering if current issues and some of those new faces might not just get some of these votes. There were more than enough votes in just those who did partial votes to have changed the outcomes of those elections.

Compounding those issues for the Town of Blacksburg is that voter turnout in November is usually 3 to 5 times higher than the previous May elections. The numbers provided in the above tables are based on the May numbers. What will happen when those numbers are increased?

Although not dealing with specific candidates, Christiansburg elected officials might find themselves worrying that those same missing votes might work against them in the future. Votes in Christiansburg must decide whether to keep Town elections in May or to join many other jurisdictions in moving Town elections to November. It would stand to reason that elected officials would have some of the same concerns that Blacksburg candidates are facing.

What does remain the same regardless of whether voter turn out is high or low, or whether the elections are in May or November, is the fact that YOU are the only person who can decide IF you will vote or not. For the sake of your town, your neighbors, and your families, I certainly hope you will take the little bit of time it takes to go vote. Each and every vote is important and the results of elections and referendums can have long term affects on everyone.

Try to get to a candidate forum or debate to hear the candidates discuss issues. If you absolutely cannot make those, then you will find links to online recordings of the forums/debate at a website sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Montgomery County. Additionally, written voters guides which consist of questions to and the responses by candidates are also available.

For those of you in Christiansburg, I can say that moving the elections will save on taxpayer money and will encourage more people to be involved in the election of government officials. I suppose the results of the Blacksburg election will be something of a litmus test to see if involving more voters in the process of electing local officials will have an effect on voting patterns.

Don’t forget to vote!