On Thursday, Audrey, Peter and I watched on television as President Barack Obama delivered a stirring speech in support of Sen. Patty Murray. A little while later, we passed an airfield where Audrey spotted Air Force One and a small crowd that had gathered to watch the president fly on to Portland. People were standing in pickup truck beds and on their car roofs just to get a glimpse of Obama.After a few tricky maneuvers to figure out how to get into the parking lot, we joined the group and were soon rewarded with the sight of a long cavalcade of vehicles that circled around to the plane. Of course, there were two long black cars with flags flying, so we only knew the president was in one of them. Still, Audrey was especially excited to be in proximity to Obama.
The president was on a mission to get out the Democratic vote in the Nov. 2 election. A local effort took place here in Plainfield today. But whatever one's affiliation, voting is an important right that should be exercised.
According to the Union County Board of Elections, there are 4,980 people registered to vote in the First Ward, where incumbent Councilman William Reid is challenged by Republican Sean Alfred. Voters include 2,789 Democrats, 146 Republicans and 2,045 unaffiliated voters.
The other council race this year is for the Second & Third Ward at-large seat. Democratic primary winner Rebecca Williams is facing Republican James Pivnichny, who ran for mayor in 2009. In the Second Ward, there are 6,347 eligible voters, including 3,666 Democrats, two Green Party, two Libertarians, 519 Republicans and 2,158 unaffiliated voters.
There are 6,093 registered voters in the Third Ward, including 3,655 Democrats, 259 Republicans and 2,179 unaffiliated.
Voters should have received their ballots by now, with a polling place indicated for each district. In the general election, voters can choose candidates across party lines if they wish.
Polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Nov. 2.
Don't forget, all City Council candidates have been invited to take part in a League of Women Voters forum at 7 p.m. Wednesday in Emerson Community School, 305 Emerson Ave.
--Bernice
Yes and out of over three thousand democrats, she got only what, 600 votes in the primary?
ReplyDeleteYour math is wrong, Blackdog, there are more than 7,200 in the 2nd & 3rd wards.
ReplyDeleteFYI, in the June primary Rashid Burney got 568 votes, Don Davis got 200 and Rebecca Williams got 831. With three votes for "personal choice," the total was 1,602 votes cast. There were 7,384 eligible Democratic voters in the two wards at the time. That looks like a 21 percent turnout.
ReplyDeleteBernice, maybe a 21% turnout is great for Plainfield . . . but it shows exactly what the other registered voters in town are concerned with . . .NOTHING!!!!
ReplyDeleteHow many voters are there altogether registered in Plainfield in all three classifications . . . Unaffiliated, Republicans and Democrats?
I believe the system has merit,but the people have dropped the ball . . . the most important right given by the Constitution is the right to vote!
As a long-time member of the League of Women Voters of Plainfield, I can attest to the long discussions the membership has had about trying to get folks to exercise the franchise to vote. This is a national problem. Of course, I can accept the contention of "Black Dog" that many folks were not enthused about my run; they were far, far less enthused about Rashid and Don. However, voter apathy is not necessarily attributable to our local council race--voters all over the country have become disenchanted about participating in the political system. This is a shame--I teach and study 19th and 20th century American literature, culture, and politics--our forbears are turning in their graves at our squandering of the hard-won franchise.
ReplyDeleteRebecca