- Englewood animal shelter has caring workers
- Resist the DREAM
- McCallin: loose cannon
- A DIFFERING VIEW/Farm Bill’s goal is to put affordable food on the table
- Environmental saviors
- Judge has a backbone
- Trick or treating etiquette
- Homelessness in Colorado
- Politics never meant to be a career option
- Term limits the answer for Congress
More voting info. needed
My specific issue is with the Arapahoe County ballot.
After speaking with a very polite and understanding lady at the County Clerk’s office (per directions to get voting information), the net result was to chase down a “rabbit-trail” to find some information on the 3 ballot issues.
However, there is nothing and no place that we could discover to go to find out about the candidates. Fine — this has nothing to do with political parties; but how do I make a choice with no information on their positions, experience, issues?
Centennial is considering a Home Rule charter and is starting a commission to look into it. “Pick not more than 21” of the 35 names on the list. Guess what? I don’t know any of them by name!
Perhaps they want the list picked by the 20-30 people who may know the names of these people. Who has the biggest local families? Perhaps they don’t want an informed electorate? I hate to say this, but in a contested seat for the CCSD board, I am considering NOT voting for a candidate simply because of an Hispanic surname.
Shame on me — but I have no other information and right now the divisive situation between illegals and not is a factor on how I vote.
Shame on the State offices for allowing this to happen without requiring providing information to the electorate. And despite the fact that some of the candidates have web sites, not all do; and not all voters — I suspect a lot of them — either can’t or won’t make the effort to go try and look them up, especially for all 35 candidates.
This situation is absurd, disrespectful, demeaning, and certainly not becoming on a supposedly intelligent populace like Colorado has.
My Mother-in-law asked me about the ballot and where the information was. After I relayed the information, or lack thereof, her response was, “I guess I won’t bother.”
This ought be an interesting 10% voter response. And we will be blamed for not responding when “they” don’t give us the information with which to make a decision.
This letter has not been edited.
I agree fully why don't our corrupt single owned media cover these issues???? I'm searching all over the net to find out anything I can about the candidates and the ballot issues. RMN and DP are owned by the same entity, and that is WRONG! UNETHICAL UNACCEPTABLE. Who doesn't know this already and why??? The people need to be educated about ethics in journalism. What Ronald Regan did in the 80's by deregulating mass media, created this nightmare, who doesn't know that???
Posted by Chris on November 2, 2007 02:40 PMI agree fully why don't our corrupt single owned media cover these issues???? I'm searching all over the net to find out anything I can about the candidates and the ballot issues. RMN and DP are owned by the same entity, and that is WRONG! UNETHICAL UNACCEPTABLE. Who doesn't know this already and why??? The people need to be educated about ethics in journalism. What Ronald Regan did in the 80's by deregulating mass media, created this nightmare, who doesn't know that???
Posted by on November 2, 2007 02:41 PMAGREE,
In Calif., the league of women voters and sec of state both provide non-partisan statements/reviews of candidates and propositions. Sure, it can be a pain to read but as a citizen that was my job! In Colorado I feel uninformed. I will withold my vote rather than make a stupid vote based on name, position on the ballot or just "gut feel". Uninformed voting is a shame at the least and should be a crime at the most!
Posted by SM on November 2, 2007 04:57 PMEvery two years Colorado has neighborhood meetings to nominate to the primary election ballot. The League of Women Voters has said that these meetings are where the voice of the individual citizen is most powerful.
A recent survey shows that only 8% of the people in Colorado even know these meetings exist!
The deadline for registering to participate in these meetings is December 5. Why aren't our newspapers making this important fact known?
How about a box on the front page "Only X days left to register to vote in your precinct caucus." A link could be provided that would give citizens more information about this important Colorado institution.
Every two years we have the opportunity for a state-wide civics lesson. Why don't the newspapers get behind it like the newspapers do in Iowa for the much better known Iowa Caucus?
Posted by John Wren on November 3, 2007 07:51 AMEvery two years Colorado has neighborhood meetings to nominate to the primary election ballot. The League of Women Voters has said that these meetings are where the voice of the individual citizen is most powerful.
A recent survey shows that only 8% of the people in Colorado even know these meetings exist!
The deadline for registering to participate in these meetings is December 5. Why aren't our newspapers making this important fact known?
How about a box on the front page "Only X days left to register to vote in your precinct caucus." A link could be provided that would give citizens more information about this important Colorado institution.
Every two years we have the opportunity for a state-wide civics lesson. Why don't the newspapers get behind it like the newspapers do in Iowa for the much better known Iowa Caucus?
Posted by John Wren on November 3, 2007 07:51 AMThanks John. I had no idea how the system works in Colorado (like others). Still, for those who don't have the time to attend the meetings. How do we get informed on their positions have after the candidates declare? There has got to be a better way to get their positions out.
Sent while traveling in the People's Republic of China where you have NO choice (hope it gets through).
Posted by SM on November 5, 2007 02:14 AM