By Staff
A hasty decision
The Madison Republican Club has somehow convinced the Madison County Commission to move Precinct #63 from Madison Boulevard to a location on the north end of County Line Road.
According to Howard Bates, county administrator, the Republicans contend that the political signs displayed on the Plumbers and Pipefitters property (Precinct #63) are pro-Democratic and may influence some of the "party faithful" to cast their votes for the "other " party. Spare me, please.
It's absolutely ludicrous to imagine that any of my fellow Republicans could be persuaded to change their votes due to exposure of "unfriendly" signs at any voting location.
This writer agrees that changes must be made relative to the redistribution of the voters in new districts and that the ratio, per precinct, should be evenly balanced.
My question is why must this action be made effective with the November election?
In this year's primary election, only 20 percent of the registered voters in Precinct #63 turned out to vote. Now, the county commission, in an effort to encourage a larger voter turnout, is forcing voters in the Mountainbrook and Edgewater communities in southeast Madison to drive more than 10 miles, one way, to this new location. This is an increase of four miles.
Following November's election, no additional elections will be held until June 2004. Why couldn't the county commission delay any precinct changes until an overall assessment of the city's precincts is researched and then make the necessary changes. Postponing this action will benefit all the voters in Madison.
Sincerely,
Joe Trevorrow
Inspector, Precinct #63
Madison, Ala.