Fall is for elections
Roanoke City Council should spring forward and move municipal elections from May to November.
For the fence-sitters on Roanoke City Council, it seemed a good idea to ask a professional to help them decide whether democracy is best served with May or November municipal elections. Roanoke College professor Harry Wilson thought he knew overwhelmingly what the answer would be — before he looked into it.
September 11, 2012 - 6:53 AM
I certainly agree that the fall election date makes more sense, saves money and will show more voter participation.
I think that it is naive to think that doing “away with political party affiliation” will help anything or anyone. While it is true that no “local issue” per se “is defined by party ideology”, certainly the council is driven by their own ideology and that is, for most partisans, true to the bone.
Yes, without party labels, voters would be left to their own assumptions and need to delve into backing, financing and history in ways they have not always done. Everyone knows, or believes they do, what a Democrat or a Republican is and stands for. It would certainly give Republicans a chance they have not historically had in Roanoke City. Just by “virtue” of their party platform, many would not be popular.
Of course move it to November. This last election was an embarrassment. At least people will vote in November.
I would love to see political parties abolished. One of the most damaging (of many) SCOTUS rulings was that donated money = free speech. I would love to see that overturned, and then laws passed preventing any entity not authorized to cast a vote from donating money to candidates. Only individuals. That would eliminate parties, PACs, unions, churches, corporations, foreign governments, foreigners…force candidates to actual present ideas and convince people.
Kudos to the Roanoke Times for actually admitting that because November elections save money, they should be moved, now maybe you could push for ALL localities in your area to do the same!
@4 This is not a new position for the editorial board. We have argued for this change in other localities that have considered. Blacksburg and Christiansburg come immediately to mind.
#3 IMHO you contradict all your previous libertarian POV. Freedom of association and common goals are indeed 1st Amendment rights. Scotus got it right in CU.
“Abolished”? By who? The very government you claim to wish to limit?
You (as I) claim to support free markets. People vote with association & dollars in all markets, including elections. It’s not always pretty, but to me beats the hell out of the government (or the RT) telling us how we can associate & manifest our preferences.
I agree with fall elections, but they should be in even years instead of odd years. The non-stop elections in Virginia are meant to depress turnout and make it easier for those with power to hold onto it. Local and statewide elections should coincide with the even year Presidential or Congressional mid-term elections.
One of the biggest problems with political parties is that we have Democrats and Republicans at all levels: federal, state, and local. It’d be healthier and less polarizing if there were different party structures at each level.