Early voting was established as a way of offering voters a chance to cast their ballots before Election Day, as a means of convenience to their schedules and giving them a chance to avoid lines at the polls. It's proved successful, both locally and throughout the state. In the 2008 election alone, 37 percent of voter turnout in Randolph County was a result of the program.
Following up on a 2009 legislative bill, the Randolph County Commission and County Clerk Brenda Wiseman hoped to give voters an additional opportunity by creating a satellite early voting site. Tentatively, they considered the senior center in Mill Creek because of its central location and amenities. Anyone from Randolph County could have voted there, not just the people registered in that area.
For all that to happen, Wiseman, County Commissioners Mike Taylor, Julia Elbon and Chris See, Randolph County Democratic Executive Committee Chairman Rob Beckwith and Randolph County Republican Executive Committee Chairman Jeff Loudin had to agree unanimously. On Wednesday, that didn't happen. Beckwith and Loudin turned down the proposal after a nearly 45-minute discussion.
Beckwith and Loudin had many questions, most of which the commissioners answered. They had concerns about costs and the number of Valley area residents who took advantage of early voting. However when it came to getting specific figures from Wiseman and she offered to provide them, the chairmen didn't move forward.
Why did they ask for the information and then decline to have Wiseman retrieve it? If they had gotten the figures, would it have changed their votes?
Regardless of how many Valley residents voted early in the last election, having a satellite site in Mill Creek and possibly some other locations would have been a great asset to our county voters. Early voting is a convenience. Going to the Randolph County Courthouse and finding a parking place isn't always so easy for everyone.
The chairmen also questioned the benefit of having a satellite site on an off-year election when a lower voter turnout is expected. Wouldn't that be the best time to see how the site would work out and what kinds of problems poll workers would encounter?
The group didn't have to make its final decision this week. In fact, they had until 120 days prior to the 2010 primary election. We wish they would have waited and taken the time to get some opinions from voters.
