November 3, 2009 6:55 pm

Low Turnout Thus Far in Norwalk

Reports from the field indicate that turnout is low throughout Norwalk and especially at Columbus school. About 5000 people had voted by noon today, putting Norwalk on track for a total voter turnout of between 10k and 11k.

OLD TIMER

Failure to run an opposition slate in SoNo was actually brilliant strategy. Moccia’s party knew they wouldn’t win the district,and, the unapposed dems wouldn’t turn out many voters.(why bother) The district could have decided this election, if they got their people out to vote.
Secondhand Rose

The Hour’s website is proclaiming that Moccia has won a 3rd term.
Barnstorm

Somebody call Mayflower. Mikey’s going to need a van for all his stuff.

Hopefully Moccia won’t do an “Esposito” and declare this an overwhelming mandate, when the voting totals are such a low percentage of the population.

To the winners congratulations…to the losers, thanks for stepping up and giving it a try. Now let’s get to work.
Secondhand Rose

Guess he didn’t want to show up here to admit what a loser he is. Both figuratively and literally. LOL.
Roundabout

Lets unpack this a bit, see what is hidden in those flaps and pockets we overlook

According to The Hour’s published results, Serasis was denied the mayors chair by 2850.

Some facts we should digest: Serasis didn’t get the nod till what August when Krummel was attacked and packed up his tent and went home. Our loss.

Moccia had a nice chunk of change he could play with.

Serasis, had no money and took out a personal loan to even try and compete. And with nothing, compete he did.

Out of town of what 84,000 counted residents, (actual head count is probably closer to 119,000), 44,000 and change are registered to cast ballots.

Out of 44,000 only 13,238 participated in this election.

Stating the results as “a victory” with less than a quarter of the REGISTERED voters even noticing there is an election until the day before, for many,

many more the day after, what statement does that make about us, about our system?

What does that say about our daily newspaper that is supposed to inform?

The Dunkin Donuts in town get more customers, in one morning, than we have turning out to vote.

Some questions to toss out there.

If 13,238 cast their votes for mayor, why did 527 decide not to cast any vote for a town clerk? There were only two choices.

One voter at one poll came dashing up, 3 mins after the polls closed.

Upon learning he missed the deadline the voter was very, er, upset and made it known.

Many others are routinely refused for failing to make the registration deadline.

Some showed up at the polls to be turned away because they failed to update their address.

Is it time we reached out to voters?

Can we put elections on the web for better access?

Can we loosen up absentee balloting so more can cast their votes at their convenience?

Are there too many barriers on the electorate?

How can we involve everyone?

Can we call our system a democracy if only some seniors and our elite are involved?

Anyone else feel like we are on the merry go round and being taken for a ride?

Ever notice when the merrry go round stops, your where you began?

Round and round we go…..

NorwalkSpectator

I read your post with interest, Roundabout.

Most of the time, the people who truly are interested in voting know what is expected of them. They know when Election Day is, who is running, where to go to cast their vote and what documents to bring. However, I will confess to having arrived at the wrong location a time or two in the past, due to being a bit rushed. Those of us that showed up at the polls this past Tuesday weren’t all elderly or elite. We were the people who felt that what we were doing was important. In the short time that I was there at the polls, I saw young and old, and everything in between. I can’t speak to economic status, because it’s none of my business and I’m content to leave it that way. The ones that can’t be bothered to find out the details often can’t be bothered to go and vote.

Secondhand Rose

Voter turnout has been lagging every year since Watergate. Improving voter apathy is the challenge – especially when there is no one specific reason why voters are apathetic – it means different things to different people. Some say they’re tired of voting for the “same old, same old”. Others say they mistrust politics and politicians in general. There are those who simply no longer care.
But low voter turnout is far from being a new situation. And to be honest, I’m not even sure how to begin to address it. How do you reach people who no longer care to be invested in the process?
NorwalkSpectator

The thing that baffles me is that the local elections directly affect us. It’s noble and great to vote in Presidential and other national elections, but it’s the mayor and the council that make sure that drinkable water comes through the pipes when you turn the faucet on. It’s the Board of Education that makes sure your child or the kid next door has the opportunity for an education.

Yeah, a person can easily live in Norwalk and never care much about local politics or vote, my next door neighbors do it all the time. They don’t realize that how the Council votes could dictate when their street gets paved or whether more police are hired. Who gets voted onto the Council may affect whether someone’s rent or property taxes go up and how much they increase. The decisions of the Council as to whether to apply for grants could easily affect whether there are new computers for the library, speech therapists for the schools, or even more housing for the elderly and disabled.

I heard a short monologue on Star 99 the other day on my car radio. The show’s host explained that she had adopted a child from another country. Her “new” 12 year old daughter had never had a table and chair to sit at to eat a meal. Never went to school. Never owned more than two shirts and two pairs of pants. She said that all her listeners should stop for a moment and be thankful for all their blessings. Think about that for a minute.
Secondhand Rose

I’ve never understood that either, Spectator. One would think that the local elections would garner MORE turnout, not less, since the issues being voted on are right here in everyone’s back yard and have a direct impact on every citizen, whether they vote or not.
Barnstorm

Interesting post Roundabout.

I like how you put into perspective the number of citizens, eligible voters, and actual turnout. I remember clearly how Frank Esposito, having been re-elected by less than 1/10th of the city’s population, would declare his victory a “mandate”. His pomposity and arrogance still bugs me to this day.

I had some thoughts about a few of your questions. First off, we could “reach out” to the electorate, but we can’t force them to respond. You’d be wasting your time unless you were able to figure out some way to dismantle everyones cell phone, palm pilot,e-mail access, Facebook page or twitter account until such time as they could prove they’d voted. We’re all just too busy “communicating ” with each other to bother with our civic responsibilities.

On a more serious note, I would hesitate to use the internet for voting as there are too many technical obstacles to overcome in order to assure the integrity of the count. I would say that numerous communities (Oregon, among others) have had tremendous response to “vote by mail” initiatives. It increases voter response, participation, and eliminates the hassle of coming home after a long day’s commute and rushing to the polls when you’d rather be eating supper. I can’t go into the specifics of the process here, but it has shown to work, it’s a viable alternative, and perhaps should be explored. It would also address your concern about opening up the absentee ballot process.

Nothing will work however until the people themselves assume their own personal responsibilities and decide to participate. You can bend over backwards and make yourself as accessable as possible, and it will still be up to the people to get off their asses to make the decision to vote.