Comments on: Low Voter Turnout? This Is Probably Why http://www.bydio.com/2008/09/14/low-voter-turnout-this-is-probably-why/ This is the rule of power: expanding power always benefits those who have power already, not those who don’t. Tue, 09 Mar 2010 03:43:06 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Donkeyrock http://www.bydio.com/2008/09/14/low-voter-turnout-this-is-probably-why/comment-page-1/#comment-9075 Donkeyrock Mon, 27 Oct 2008 20:59:45 +0000 http://www.bydio.com/2008/09/14/low-voter-turnout-this-is-probably-why/#comment-9075 You're right, tom, I do need to read up a lot. I have been doing so. The problems with such reading-up is finding the information that's pertinent to making educated decisions. I went to <a href="http://www.theledger.com/" rel="nofollow">The Ledger's</a> site today and scrolled about 1/3 of the way down the page to find a small rectangle where I can find a <a href="http://www.thevoterguide.org/a-lakeland/" rel="nofollow">voting guide</a>. How the Rays did last night is far more prominent than our upcoming elections. There isn't even a tab at the top to direct me to a "politics" section. Oh well. The voter guide is improved over the last time I tried it (2006, I think), though it works on the same principles. I'd still like to see a lot more integration with links to articles and issues, but at least it's getting better. The <a href="http://www.polkelections.com/" rel="nofollow">PolkElections.com</a> site is better now, too, but could be improved greatly. This is one area where I think the elections site should be doing the bulk of the work instead of the newspaper site, giving the voters a lot of info and an easy way to cut through some hassles of finding the right info to make a decision. I didn't know judge races were countywide, but then I never thought about it, and it's good to know. I read back on what I've written and it seems like a lot of whining. I suppose there's some in there because I know that what I ask is very possible: A clean interface to find out information about the candidates running for office, the issues (local, State and Federal) that have been brought up, and direct links to read up on specific information (newspaper site is best for this info, but can be linked from the elections site). This whining is not just about me because I'll do fine finding all the info I want; this is about many of the average voters who aren't internet savvy trying to find this information in a central location with easily digestible information that leads to more complex information, all of which helps to make an informed decision based on relevant information and facts. It's really not that hard to do, it just takes time and effort to put it together (along with money, which is why -- as a necessary citizen service -- I think it should be done by the elections site). So thanks for the prompt, tom. Happy voting on November 4th! You’re right, tom, I do need to read up a lot. I have been doing so. The problems with such reading-up is finding the information that’s pertinent to making educated decisions.

I went to The Ledger’s site today and scrolled about 1/3 of the way down the page to find a small rectangle where I can find a voting guide. How the Rays did last night is far more prominent than our upcoming elections. There isn’t even a tab at the top to direct me to a “politics” section. Oh well.

The voter guide is improved over the last time I tried it (2006, I think), though it works on the same principles. I’d still like to see a lot more integration with links to articles and issues, but at least it’s getting better. The PolkElections.com site is better now, too, but could be improved greatly.

This is one area where I think the elections site should be doing the bulk of the work instead of the newspaper site, giving the voters a lot of info and an easy way to cut through some hassles of finding the right info to make a decision.

I didn’t know judge races were countywide, but then I never thought about it, and it’s good to know.

I read back on what I’ve written and it seems like a lot of whining. I suppose there’s some in there because I know that what I ask is very possible: A clean interface to find out information about the candidates running for office, the issues (local, State and Federal) that have been brought up, and direct links to read up on specific information (newspaper site is best for this info, but can be linked from the elections site). This whining is not just about me because I’ll do fine finding all the info I want; this is about many of the average voters who aren’t internet savvy trying to find this information in a central location with easily digestible information that leads to more complex information, all of which helps to make an informed decision based on relevant information and facts. It’s really not that hard to do, it just takes time and effort to put it together (along with money, which is why — as a necessary citizen service — I think it should be done by the elections site).

So thanks for the prompt, tom. Happy voting on November 4th!

]]> By: tom http://www.bydio.com/2008/09/14/low-voter-turnout-this-is-probably-why/comment-page-1/#comment-9073 tom Mon, 27 Oct 2008 19:51:54 +0000 http://www.bydio.com/2008/09/14/low-voter-turnout-this-is-probably-why/#comment-9073 You sound as though you need to read up a lot, either through the local newspaper (The Ledger publishes extension election guides and articles on the races and ballot questions, all of which are archived on their web site) or some other source and become more familiar with local affairs before Nov. 4 comes around, when your party registration won't matter. County commission and judge races are countywide. Legislative races are by geographic district. It's that simple. You sound as though you need to read up a lot, either through the local newspaper (The Ledger publishes extension election guides and articles on the races and ballot questions, all of which are archived on their web site) or some other source and become more familiar with local affairs before Nov. 4 comes around, when your party registration won’t matter.

County commission and judge races are countywide. Legislative races are by geographic district. It’s that simple.

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