Voting Tomorrow

[Argie's Wife]

Tomorrow - March 10 - the voters of Alton and other SB-2 towns get to weigh in on the big matters of their schools and town.

Get out and VOTE!

See ya at the polls!

[RLW]

Originally Posted by Argie's Wife

Tomorrow - March 10 - the voters of Alton and other SB-2 towns get to weigh in on the big matters of their schools and town.

Get out and VOTE!

See ya at the polls!

I second the above and also make the suggestion to refresh yourselves with the selectmen candidates answers to the questionnaire in last weeks Baysider

[twoplustwo]

I'm happy with the M'Boro results - SB2 down, rezoning of 25 down.

[RLW]

I'm unhappy with the Alton selectmens results, but can't say to much as I'm a non voter.

[Lakewinn1]

I also agree ... great results ....

[Argie's Wife]

I've very active in town & school politics and spent several hours yesterday warming the sidewalk outside our polls to show my support for a warrant article that was near-n-dear to my heart. Voter turn out was good.

I wish voter turn out had been better at the town's deliberative sessions, tho - it was abysmal at the school's session which had about 40 people, including the school board, administrators, budget committee - people who were on the stage. The town's session wasn't much better.

I think if voters had been at the deliberative sessions to learn more about the warrant articles that were proposed that they would have been more informed as they walked in the voting booth. Some things failed that should not have, in my opinion. C'est la vie when you're an SB-2 town.

Maybe M'boro should count their blessings.

[RLW]

Originally Posted by Argie's Wife

I've very active in town & school politics and spent several hours yesterday warming the sidewalk outside our polls to show my support for a warrant article that was near-n-dear to my heart. Voter turn out was good.

I wish voter turn out had been better at the town's deliberative sessions, tho - it was abysmal at the school's session which had about 40 people, including the school board, administrators, budget committee - people who were on the stage. The town's session wasn't much better.

I think if voters had been at the deliberative sessions to learn more about the warrant articles that were proposed that they would have been more informed as they walked in the voting booth. Some things failed that should not have, in my opinion. C'est la vie when you're an SB-2 town.

Maybe M'boro should count their blessings.

What was the voter turn out for the elections. I heard that it was just about 22% which if that was the case, I wouldn't call it a good turn out as stated in the last sentence of the first paragraph.

[Argie's Wife]

Alton has approximately 3,796 registered voters (data from 08/18/08 Checklist report.)

There were 956 voters yesterday. (Appx 24%)

In 2008 it was about 830 and in 2007 it was in the 780's.

Maybe I should preface it by saying "good turnout for Alton..."


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EDITED After Slickcraft's post, below. (Sorry.)

There's not 4,065 registered voters; not sure where Carbone got that number (or much of his info, for that matter.)

[Slickcraft]

Originally Posted by RLW

What was the voter turn out for the elections. I heard that it was just about 22% which if that was the case, I wouldn't call it a good turn out as stated in the last sentence of the first paragraph.

According to the Laconia Sun (which does not have a stellar record for getting the facts right), the Alton turnout this year was 956 out of 4065 or 23.5 percent. Last year 788 out of 3,835 voted; 20.5 percent.

I think that this is about the normal deal.

[upthesaukee]

Originally Posted by Argie's Wife

Alton has approximately 3,796 registered voters (data from 08/18/08 Checklist report.)

There were 956 voters yesterday. (Appx 24%)

In 2008 it was about 830 and in 2007 it was in the 780's.

Maybe I should preface it by saying "good turnout for Alton..."


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EDITED After Slickcraft's post, below. (Sorry.)

There's not 4,065 registered voters; not sure where Carbone got that number (or much of his info, for that matter.)

From the Citizen:

The town of Alton only had 956 votes cast out of the 4,065 names on the checklist

Perhaps they talked to the Keepers of the checklist . Not a stretch to have approx 300 voters register since last Aug.

I also do not think that 24 or 25 % of voters is ok...rather empathetic (I think the right word.

As far as more people going to deliberative sessions...it about the same as went to Town Meeting. Those who voted in SB2 and thought that deliberative sessions were going to be significantly better attended were, unfortunately sadly mistaken. I am sure that some articles were voted down by dollar figures, and not by any substantive explantion to them about why the warrant is on the ballot. Just a sign of the times...I don't have time to vote, and oh by the way, those of you who did vote, did a lousy job of it .

AW, I don't think I am actually disagreeing with you, just sharing in your frustration.

[M/V_Bear_II]

Voter apathy is normal, particularly on local issues. 25% is pretty good for a simple local election, in my experience.

That doesn't make it acceptable, though. Proportionally, a voter has a MUCH bigger impact on his own life by participating in local politics than by participating in national politics.