No more speeches. No more debates. No more annoying ads. No more robocalls.
No more ballots.
As a member of Pamlico County's Board of Elections, I am prohibited from publicly advocating or opposing any candidate appearing on my county's ballot. I have chosen to interpret that as prohibiting the display of yard signs or bumper stickers.
But the election is over and there is no more ballot that I am responsible for.
Today I put up a yard sign for Obama/Biden.
I can now celebrate my country.
We can be truly exceptional.
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
Tuesday, November 6, 2012
Election Day 2012
I'm watching the scene on ABC as the network calls Ohio for Obama. The scene is an open-air crowd, obviously not Republicans. How can I tell? The diversity.
This is America's future. Even in North Carolina, which has taken what I believe is a temporary deviation from its historic course as the most progressive state of the Old South.
Demographic change is happening across the land.
North Carolina can lead, follow or get out of the way.
This is America's future. Even in North Carolina, which has taken what I believe is a temporary deviation from its historic course as the most progressive state of the Old South.
Demographic change is happening across the land.
North Carolina can lead, follow or get out of the way.
Monday, November 5, 2012
Siren Song
I won't be at Tuesday night's Town Board meeting. There's an election going on, and I have to be there.
In case anyone is interested, I think Alan Arnfast makes a good case that the siren should stay at Town Hall.
In any event, I wonder if the Town has tracked down which agency is the successor to the original 1953 federal funding source and what they have to say about location.
In case anyone is interested, I think Alan Arnfast makes a good case that the siren should stay at Town Hall.
In any event, I wonder if the Town has tracked down which agency is the successor to the original 1953 federal funding source and what they have to say about location.
Remembrance Of Elections Past: 2000
Elections have consequences.
Counting votes has consequences.
Supreme Court interventions have consequences.
Consequences of 2000:
9/11;
John Roberts; Samuel Alito;
Iraq;
Twelve more years of global warming, aka climate change;
Vast increases in wealth of the top 1% of earners;
2007 economic collapse.
Cause of election outcome:
Press distortions about Al Gore;
Gore and his campaign were too polite;
Outright lies by Bush campaign given free pass.
In an earlier time, it was reasonably safe to rely on the mainstream press to provide objective coverage of elections. It was pundits (fed leaks) who did the dirty work. US law prohibited too much common ownership of media.
By 1992, the national press had pretty much shifted out of that mode.
In 1993 FOX got the rights to broadcast NFL football.
The rest is history.
Good results of 2000:
Help America Vote Act.
Counting votes has consequences.
Supreme Court interventions have consequences.
Consequences of 2000:
9/11;
John Roberts; Samuel Alito;
Iraq;
Twelve more years of global warming, aka climate change;
Vast increases in wealth of the top 1% of earners;
2007 economic collapse.
Cause of election outcome:
Press distortions about Al Gore;
Gore and his campaign were too polite;
Outright lies by Bush campaign given free pass.
In an earlier time, it was reasonably safe to rely on the mainstream press to provide objective coverage of elections. It was pundits (fed leaks) who did the dirty work. US law prohibited too much common ownership of media.
By 1992, the national press had pretty much shifted out of that mode.
In 1993 FOX got the rights to broadcast NFL football.
The rest is history.
Good results of 2000:
Help America Vote Act.
One More Day
Tomorrow is election day.
Unless you are a poll worker or other election official, the only thing you have to worry about is getting up and stopping by your precinct to vote. In Pamlico County, we hope election day lines won't be long - 46% of our registered voters have already cast their ballots.
We don't know how many voters will show up tomorrow, but based on four years ago, 2,500 seems like a good estimate.
Polls open at 6:30 am and close at 7:30 pm. Each polling place will count votes as soon as the polls close and announce their local results to any member of the public present. They will then deliver election records to the Board of Elections in Bayboro. County returns will be posted in the upstairs Court Room as soon as they arrive.
What happens if we have an emergency? The Board of Elections plans for contingencies so you don't have to. If there is a loss of power, we are prepared to use paper ballots in place of our voting machines. If a machine fails, we have backups. If a precinct official gets sick, we have emergency officials on call.
And we are all thankful we don't have the problems facing election officials and voters in New York and New Jersey.
The election will take place.
Unless you are a poll worker or other election official, the only thing you have to worry about is getting up and stopping by your precinct to vote. In Pamlico County, we hope election day lines won't be long - 46% of our registered voters have already cast their ballots.
We don't know how many voters will show up tomorrow, but based on four years ago, 2,500 seems like a good estimate.
Polls open at 6:30 am and close at 7:30 pm. Each polling place will count votes as soon as the polls close and announce their local results to any member of the public present. They will then deliver election records to the Board of Elections in Bayboro. County returns will be posted in the upstairs Court Room as soon as they arrive.
What happens if we have an emergency? The Board of Elections plans for contingencies so you don't have to. If there is a loss of power, we are prepared to use paper ballots in place of our voting machines. If a machine fails, we have backups. If a precinct official gets sick, we have emergency officials on call.
And we are all thankful we don't have the problems facing election officials and voters in New York and New Jersey.
The election will take place.
Sunday, November 4, 2012
Standard Time Again
I really don't like the twice yearly ritual of changing clocks. It is totally irrational.
Daylight Saving Time doesn't. We have exactly the same amount of daylight today one way or the other. Here is a link to my earlier post suggesting we go back to the system before railroads - every place has its own local time based on the sundial.
Computers can handle that.
Another approach to Oriental Standard Time has already been implemented by some local citizens - abolish clocks and wrist watches.
Daylight Saving Time doesn't. We have exactly the same amount of daylight today one way or the other. Here is a link to my earlier post suggesting we go back to the system before railroads - every place has its own local time based on the sundial.
Computers can handle that.
Another approach to Oriental Standard Time has already been implemented by some local citizens - abolish clocks and wrist watches.
Saturday, November 3, 2012
Election Problems In Other States
North Carolina has completed early voting. In Pamlico County, we expect a few more absentee votes between now and election day. So far, 4,382 Pamlico County voters have cast ballots. That number constitutes about 46.35% of our registered voters.
No one can know how many more will vote next Tuesday. If the last presidential election is any guide, there should be at least 2,500 additional votes cast. Maybe more.
Rain is forecast for Tuesday.
But that rain will be nothing compared to the challenges facing voters and election officials in New York and New Jersey. Where will people vote? How will they get there?
New Jersey officials have decided to allow electronic voting.
In the meantime, some voters are planning to sue the Ohio Secretary of State for allegedly installing experimental software between county vote tabulation equipment and the state tabulators.
In North Carolina there is a little carping about a handful of voting machines out of calibration. In Pamlico County, we have never had a voting machine lose calibration during an election.
At election time, I'm happy to be here.
No one can know how many more will vote next Tuesday. If the last presidential election is any guide, there should be at least 2,500 additional votes cast. Maybe more.
Rain is forecast for Tuesday.
But that rain will be nothing compared to the challenges facing voters and election officials in New York and New Jersey. Where will people vote? How will they get there?
New Jersey officials have decided to allow electronic voting.
In the meantime, some voters are planning to sue the Ohio Secretary of State for allegedly installing experimental software between county vote tabulation equipment and the state tabulators.
In North Carolina there is a little carping about a handful of voting machines out of calibration. In Pamlico County, we have never had a voting machine lose calibration during an election.
At election time, I'm happy to be here.
Friday, November 2, 2012
Next Tuesday's Election In Oriental
In case you hadn't heard, next Tuesday is a presidential election. Many voters in Pamlico County have already cast their votes, perhaps as many as half of all likely voters. We won't know until all the ballots are in.
Holding an election involves a lot of people. Not only the voters but also the most politically active and dedicated members of the community. About 50 poll workers. Anywhere from 40 to 80 poll observers inside the polling places to observe the proceedings. Perhaps ten more "runners," to pick up lists of voters at each polling place at 10:00, 2:00 and 4:00. Citizens giving other citizens rides to the polls. Each party will staff its headquarters to analyze turnout and encourage those who have not yet voted to do so. There may be another 100 party representatives greeting voters outside the buffer zone, offering information about their party's candidates. There will be representatives of candidates and candidates themselves among the greeters.
In short, perhaps 200 to 300 of the county's most dedicated citizens may be involved in election activities. Many will not leave the polling places until after the votes are counted, perhaps 8:00 pm, perhaps later. And it is likely to be after 9:00 before the county's final vote total is available at the court house.
A high percentage of these dedicated citizens, including two members of the County Board of Elections, reside in Oriental and continue to follow town affairs.
The Oriental Town Board of Commissioners apparently seem oblivious to the schedule. Once again, they decided to have the November town board meeting Tuesday evening while the election is still going on.
I didn't succeed in getting the November meeting moved when I was on the Town Board, but I still see no reason not to reschedule meetings instead of holding them election night.
It's a shame we can't seem to get that done.
Holding an election involves a lot of people. Not only the voters but also the most politically active and dedicated members of the community. About 50 poll workers. Anywhere from 40 to 80 poll observers inside the polling places to observe the proceedings. Perhaps ten more "runners," to pick up lists of voters at each polling place at 10:00, 2:00 and 4:00. Citizens giving other citizens rides to the polls. Each party will staff its headquarters to analyze turnout and encourage those who have not yet voted to do so. There may be another 100 party representatives greeting voters outside the buffer zone, offering information about their party's candidates. There will be representatives of candidates and candidates themselves among the greeters.
In short, perhaps 200 to 300 of the county's most dedicated citizens may be involved in election activities. Many will not leave the polling places until after the votes are counted, perhaps 8:00 pm, perhaps later. And it is likely to be after 9:00 before the county's final vote total is available at the court house.
A high percentage of these dedicated citizens, including two members of the County Board of Elections, reside in Oriental and continue to follow town affairs.
The Oriental Town Board of Commissioners apparently seem oblivious to the schedule. Once again, they decided to have the November town board meeting Tuesday evening while the election is still going on.
I didn't succeed in getting the November meeting moved when I was on the Town Board, but I still see no reason not to reschedule meetings instead of holding them election night.
It's a shame we can't seem to get that done.
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