Editorial
A fundamental right
| Article published on Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2008 |
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Long lines at the polls, as typical in presidential elections, should be a common sight across the country this year, even though voters have been urged to take advantage of early and mail voting.
In Florida, there are a variety of factors that can contribute to delays in voting, such as the amount of issues on the ballot, particularly the constitutional amend- ments. Voters who haven’t studied the issues might take longer to go through their ballots.
Besides candidates for president, voters will find candidates for school board, county commission, judicial seats, sheriff, property appraiser, supervisor of elections, legislative and congressional office and municipal seats.
Specifically, voters in Largo will decide on a City Commission race. St. Pete Beach voters will decide on a referendum question pertaining to its comprehensive plan and a proposed charter amendment pertaining to casino gambling.
The Nov. 4 ballot will ask voters if they want to add a section to the charter requiring voter approval to remove the environmental lands designation from county-owned lands of more than one acre. Commissioners would retain the responsibility of making changes to land of less than one acre.
Indeed, becoming familiar with the candidates and the issues in such a huge election can be difficult. Certainly, even the most informed voters might be uncertain over some of the choices. Fortunately, there’s a lot of information available online. Many candidates have there own Web sites.
The Pinellas County Supervisor of Elections Office provides a list of all the candidates and issues on the ballot. Also available are the constitutional amendments and links to Web sites that provide more details about amendments. Visit www.votepinelllas.com.
Tampa Bay Newspapers also lists a sample ballot, polling places, profiles on candidates and other information. Visit www.TBNweekly.com.
In years to come, the betting line here is that more voters will take advantage of early and mail voting, particularly in the presidential election years. Technology might bring about more ways to reduce lines at the polls.
But the fight against apathy is never easy, no matter what procedures are in place. Some voters might get tired of hearing and reading about that voting is one of the most important fundamental rights they have in America.
Let’s hope they never get tired of believing it.
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Article published on Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2008
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