Last updated on 2011.11.05
The latest Madville Times poll finds evidence that the Madison Central School District's marketing, vote-stacking, and manipulative media coverage will be for naught. I asked, "Should Madison voters approve the $16.98-million bond issue on February 1?" The poll results:
- No: 54%, 66 Votes
- Yes: 46%, 57 Votes
- Total Voters: 123
Compare that with the December results, where I gave folks a "Don't know" option, and you'll see that the middle has shifted toward a No vote. This shift fits the budget logic I laid out last week: even if elements of the plan to build a new gym and renovate the high school have merit, Governor Daugaard's proposed norm-changing 10% budget cuts mean we must wait until the state passes its budget. At least one reader has reported regretting her early vote: she voted Yes before the Governor's budget address and now wishes she could take that vote back.
Can we extrapolate these online numbers? My readership certainly consists of some strong anti-bond folks, but peruse the comment sections and you'll see a lot of strong arguments in favor of the new gym and renovation project. Supporters like my own boss, DSU's Dr. Knowlton, read these pages and make their opinions known. As I've suggested before, if my readership underrepresents any group, it would be the older, less Web-connected crowd. Mr. Goeman has suggested the older folks are leaning yes, but given the Daugaard fiscal realities and past local voting performance, I'll believe that when I see it.
The early voting may not have leaned as far Yes as the school hoped. I hear the Gracevale Hutterite Colony requested an early voting session, and knowing the semi-democratic process among our German friends, that session probably dropped a hundred-strong No bloc into Cindy Callies's traveling ballot box.
But I would suspect that, with the pre-Daugaard timing and the placement of other early voting sessions at school events, amidst all the Bulldog paraphernalia, the early vote will still lean yes. The current snowstorm thus favors the school's desired outcome, as it will lower turnout at tomorrow's polls. The message here: if your road is still clear, head in to town today and cast your vote at Cindy Callies's office at the high school.
And stay tuned for one more post on why I'm going in today to vote No.
I am surprised that more of the public did not take advantage of the high school tours or attend the forums to ask questions and debate the worthiness of the project.
Could it be that voter apathy has reached a point where people don't care either way?
I've heard lots of comments both ways. A few said that they don't want to be paying any additional taxes for any reason. Others want to support education but are unsure the outcome. We will have to see which side has the most determination to get into the car and cast their ballot for or against.
If someone can't get out to vote tomorrow and would like a ride, is there some way we can let them know where to call?
This election is a Sham! My parents went to the court house to vote absentee ballot and they were told they had to go to the high school. When the went to the high school they asked where was the secured lock box that their ballots would be put in. They said they had no. So, any ballot cast is not totally secured. My parents both refused to vote and hope they can make it tomorrow with the bad weather. My father called the attorney general in Pierre and said he has had several call about voter irregularities already in the election. He said that they are bending all of the laws to the utmost level without breaking them. He said he wished he could do something but his hands were tied. He also said that if it passes he encourages people to refuse to pay their taxes for a year. Same old Madison Crooks, Crooks and more Crooks! What a Sham! Nice democracy......
Wow! What do you think Cory, are Matthew and his dad telling the truth? The Attorney General of South Dakota is encouraging people to not pay their taxes! Congratulations, this is a huge story that broke on your blog first. Unless you don't believe Matthew Siedschalw. I don't know, I'll take him at his word I guess. On an unrelated note, does libel extend to blog comments?
Nonnie, if you know of some folks that need a ride, get in touch with me. I'll be available in the afternoon. I don't have any campaign literature or anything in my car. I'll get whoever I can, wherever my car will let me go. Or if somebody wants to loan me a snowplow...
Matt, and Matthew.
In my experience, absentee ballots are not placed in a locked box, but rather each is placed in a sealed envelope which is then delivered to the elections officials. Sometimes those election officials are at the local precinct, and sometimes they are at another place designated by the supervisor of the election.
It is true, as Matthew says, that you can only vote absentee on the school bond issue at the school, not at the courthouse. Which is ridiculous. This is indeed the equivalent of having the governor's election at Dennis Daugaard's house. I am voting "No" tomorrow even if I have to walk down to the Armory.
Since this is an election that concerns the school district absentee voting is taken care of at the school. Absentee voting at the courthouse only takes place if it is a county-related election... like the one on the zoning regulations coming up in March.
There is nothing wrong with voting at the school for school board as this is generally nonpartisan. An issue like a school bond, however, is one in which the election is run by a partisan party to the issue, and that should not be. A school bond election should be run by a disinterested party, the county auditor. This would eliminate any conflict of interest. THis would be a good issue to be taken up by the legislature this year, and if it's too late this year, then definitely next year.
The roads are bad this afternoon and they have been plowed today. The wind has not come up yet and already the drifts have made driving dangerous.
While your changing the statutes, change the one that requires a 60% vote which leads to minority rule, and protects the land barons who get all kinds of federal subsidies from federal income tax payers.