Sunday, November 04, 2007
Have some fun on Election Day
Christian Trejbal
Recent columns
- Baptists might leave downtown Blacksburg
- A theater rises between town and campus
- Making sense of local elections
- Voters have only themselves to blame
From the RoundTable blog
Election Day is almost here. On Tuesday, political junkies will hold midnight vigils before glowing computer screens that display live election returns.
Will the Democrats take control of a chamber of the General Assembly? Both? How will all of the local races turn out?
Before the post-election hangover hits, there are a few last-minute things to think about, though.
Candidates and property owners, please, get out there on Wednesday and take down all of those campaign signs. They're ugly and distracting.
Name recognition is valuable with voters who don't care about issues, but the signs just annoy informed voters who must see the same ones every day driving to and from work. The only good thing about them is that they expose neighbors' political psyches.
And some New River Valley residents are politically schizophrenic. Their yards sport signs for candidates who are running against each other.
Are they just hedging their bets by posting the "Burke for Clerk" and "Elect Erica Williams" signs? Is this akin to special interests donating to both candidates? Show some backbone and choose a side.
Meanwhile, about three-quarters of races are uncontested. In theory, that means fewer signs, but in practice, some unopposed candidates still put up their gargantuan displays. I'm looking at you, Brad Finch.
Voters should give those candidates something to worry about.
Your thoughts
- Post to the message board
- Agree or disagree? Take the poll
Don't back unopposed candidates; they will win anyway. Instead, write someone in, someone real. Vote for yourself, your boss, your high school math teacher. Heck, vote for me. Write in "Christian Trejbal" in every race you wish had been competitive.
I declare my unofficial uncandidacy for every unopposed race. I vow, if elected, to step aside immediately and demand a new election. Maybe a do-over would produce more candidates and informed debate.
If nothing else, those protest votes might help disillusioned voters crack a smile while they coast through a pathetic ballot. Maybe their dissatisfaction will even register with lawmakers who shore up a two-party system that favors incumbents.
OK, that's probably wishful thinking.
At least Blacksburg will see a spot of excitement on Tuesday. Some citizens are running with Mayor Ron Rordam's proposal to shift town council elections from May to November.
"It's just been happening too fast," Kay Moody said.
She and her allies have filed a petition to hold a referendum on the switch. They will stand outside polling places Tuesday gathering some of the approximately 1,450 valid signatures they need.
Voters should sign on. This is the best way to ensure that changing the town's election system will have the stamp of the people and a thorough debate. Indeed, the General Assembly envisioned such citizen oversight when it empowered towns to switch election dates.
The referendum differs slightly from Rordam's original plan. It would hold elections in November of odd-numbered years starting in 2009 (to replace the May 2010 election). The mayor wants November of even-numbered years starting next year.
The difference is whether councilors will appear on the ballot with national elections -- even years -- or local and state elections -- odd years.
"If we did it in conjunction with the county election," Moody said, "I see a great opportunity to generate greater interest among Blacksburg citizens in county government."
She said Blacksburg residents sometimes forget they are still part of the greater Montgomery County and need to pay more attention to what the board of supervisors and school board are up to. Getting everything on one ballot will encourage that.
The council, obviously, should refrain from action while citizens give it a shot.
Warm up the refresh button in your browser and bookmark the State Board of Elections site -- www.sbe.virginia.gov. I'll be busy writing my unacceptance speech.
Trejbal is an editorial writer for The Roanoke Times based in the New River Valley bureau in Christiansburg.
