How will this work?

[sam_gordon]

Today is our primary election (no, this is not a political post). I'm used to primaries being used to narrow down the field of candidates that will be on the ballet in the general election in November. Whether that's whoever wins the Republican/Democratic primary, or cutting down to 'x' number of candidates if a race is non-partisan.

BUT, we have a "local option" on our ballot this time to decide if the county will become "wet" (city already is wet). Obviously the choices are yes or no. So how does this work on a primary? Is the primary the only time we can vote for/against this? Will we need to make our choice known again in November?

Based on what I'm reading, it sounds like this is the vote. But does it seem strange to anyone that this is being done during a primary vs the general?

 

[soccerdad72]

I would guess this is just the vote - issues like this and tax levies* can often go onto primary ballots, as it's just another election day.

* Note: Tax levies don't usually go onto primary ballots as conventional wisdom says you want the largest number of people voting on a levy. Typically, when you have lower voter turnout, the voters who do come out to vote traditionally vote against taxes

 

[PollyannaMom]

But does it seem strange to anyone that this is being done during a primary vs the general?

Yes, it does. I would expect it to be on the general election because a lot of people I know are registered as independents (or "unenrolled" I think it's called here) and therefore don't vote in either primary.

 

[sam_gordon]

Yes, it does. I would expect it to be on the general election because a lot of people I know are registered as independents (or "unenrolled" I think it's called here) and therefore don't vote in either primary.

That's my thought also. In fact, that's the ONLY item on the independent ballot. Maybe the organizers for the vote are hoping for a lower turnout?

 

[GreatLakes]

Here the spring election is just the spring election. It might include a primary to set up the fall election but there are school, country, and even state issues as well. Those are the actual vote.

The party-neutral issues like that are on all ballots, D, R, and I. It is an important reason to vote in every election, not just the fall.

 

[AppleDumpling]

It does seem unusual, but of course voting procedures vary by state and local jurisdictions. We have school board elections here next week and primaries next month. Has this issue been heavily publicized to make people aware? The whole concept of a dry county is just so foreign to me.

 

[sam_gordon]

It does seem unusual, but of course voting procedures vary by state and local jurisdictions. We have school board elections here next week and primaries next month. Has this issue been heavily publicized to make people aware? The whole concept of a dry county is just so foreign to me.

There are billboards all over the place. I think the organizers have done a good job getting the word out.

 

[soccerdad72]

There are billboards all over the place. I think the organizers have done a good job getting the word out.

I'm assuming they had polling that indicated that it would be advantaegous to be on the May ballot versus November.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I would assume yes that your primary is the only opportunity to vote on this issue.

As to it being weird it is generally done when it's advantageous to whom ever is putting it up on the ballot. This usually depends on the issue at hand and the political party. When it's more a non-partisan issue at times the state, city, county, etc can move (depending on state law) the actual election date around to increase the odds for voter turn out (this also blurs with partisan issues views as advantageous at one point in time vs another).

 

[sam_gordon]

I'm assuming they had polling that indicated that it would be advantaegous to be on the May ballot versus November.

Very possibly. Since I'm registered Independent, I don't normally even try to vote in primaries. Since they had signs up about voting on this issue in the primary, I went. Only item to vote for.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I'm assuming they had polling that indicated that it would be advantaegous to be on the May ballot versus November.

Our last November election for my exact area was such a super long ballot this time around, the longest in the state and a decent amount of pages. Sometimes issues get lost too if there's too many, so it could be weighing the odds of hoping enough voter turn out in May instead of possibly getting lost in a different election time like November.

 

[Dan Murphy]

Could it be a non-binding referendum?

 

[sam_gordon]

Could it be a non-binding referendum?

I hope not.