by Donna Waller, President, League of Women Voters of Alachua County
This is what I think of as the beginning of the home stretch. Our general election forum at the Graham Center is over. The Vote411.org site has been updated. The last day to register to vote is Oct. 5. Early voting begins Oct. 19. Nov 3 is coming up fast.
Before Oct. 5, we should be appearing everywhere, encouraging people to register. Start at home. Talk to your friends and family. Encourage everyone to participate, regardless of ideology. Remind people that they can register or check their registration status through the Vote411 site. You cannot have a democracy without citizens.
After Oct. 5, it’s all about turnout. Turnout in the primary election was an embarrassing 27 percent in Alachua County. We have to work hard to make sure nothing like that happens this time.
The League has lots of materials reminding people to vote and explaining to potential voters how to educate themselves concerning issues and candidates. The next time you see us tabling at an event, take a handful and help us distribute them.
Take them to businesses you frequent and to the churches you attend. Post them on community bulletin boards and in your dentists’ offices and nail salons. Put the idea of voting in places in which it seldom appears. If you contact Alison Keel, the chair of Voter Services, we can provide materials and get them to you.
It is crunch time for the candidates. If you are a supporter, it is crunch time for you, too. You can’t have a democracy without good leaders, either. Running for public office is difficult. Give all you can of your time and your money in these last weeks. Let your friends and neighbors know whom you support and why. Yes, put out those yard signs. It means everything.
Educate yourself on the ballot proposals. This year, the state legislature has proposed three amendments to the state constitution. The League of Women Voters of Florida opposes all three. They all concern fiscal matters which should be handled by the legislature and not embedded in the state constitution.
Amendment 3 pits our personal interest against the common good. If it passes, it will undermine home rule and the autonomy of local government. In Alachua County, all of the smaller municipalities, with the possible exceptions of Newberry and Alachua will instantly go bankrupt, as will most of our surrounding counties.
Amendment 1 would mean less state money to help provide services, and Amendment 2 would further reduce financing for rural counties. The League is not opposed to tax relief, but these ill-considered amendments are not the way to do it.
If you live in the city of Gainesville, you will be asked to vote on a change to the city charter.
This proposal changes the way in which a replacement would be chosen if there is a sudden vacancy on the city commission. The LWV has not taken a position on this. Our local chapter did not study it. As you make a decision on this, I would recommend looking at the way vacancies are filled currently.
Most LWV members can tell you the pros and the cons. You haven’t heard about it because the legislature has made it illegal for governmental entities to advocate for or against referenda or spend money to educate the citizens.
Our Speakers Bureau has an excellent program on the ballot propositions. Invite them to speak to another organization or to a group of your neighbors about these state constitutional amendments. The contact is Candy Birch (candylwv@yahoo.com).
Please try to be an educator for your neighbors, friends, and family. We must talk about these issues everywhere. As my column last month noted, these are unusual and perilous times in our democratic republic. Wrap yourself in the Constitution and devote the next month to saving it. We really can do it.