Participate in Our Democracy

David Posnett — Sat, 04 Nov 2017 14:55:40 +0000

Tuesday November 7th is Election Day. Please go out and vote!

In East Hampton, we will be voting for Town Supervisor, Town Board, Town Trustees and county wide offices including Suffolk County District Attorney and Suffolk County Legislator. If you are feeling frustrated with your elected representatives, exercise your right to vote and make changes. If you are happy with your elected representatives, exercise your right to vote and keep those representatives in office. Every vote will have an impact this year. I personally support Peter Van Scoyoc, Kathee Burke-Gonzalez, Jeff Bragman, Tim Sini and the other Democratic candidates.

Historically, voter turnout is very low in odd numbered election years, and this can have real consequences on who wins. Four years ago in the election for East Hampton Town Board, a losing candidate Job Potter, lost by only 291 votes. That year, there were 9,538 registered voters in East Hampton who did not turn out to vote (and plenty more East Hampton residents who are eligible but not registered to vote). In an election decided by such a small margin, the residents who did not come out to the polls could have changed the election’s outcome.

And this impact in congressional elections is just as pronounced. In 2012, a presidential election year with 63% turnout, Tim Bishop won our district with 53% of the vote. In 2014, without a presidential election on the ballot, turnout fell to 39%, and Bishop’s vote share fell to 46%, as many of his 2012 voters did not show up for the midterm election. The 2016 Democratic Primary for CD-1 makes this point even more strikingly because only 9% of eligible Democratic Primary voters turned out to vote.

Our community needs you to vote on Nov. 7. In local elections, your individual vote can make a big difference. Our representation and our democracy depend on your participation, and your vote matters! If you are not registered, please register so you can vote next year. Only you can make changes in our government leadership.

Make your voice heard. Cast your vote on November 7th.

Sincerely, Perry Gershon

Let’s Vote

David Posnett — Mon, 30 Oct 2017 10:10:13 +0000

Letter to the Editor in the East Hampton Star Oct. 26, 2017

“Self-Defeating”

With two weeks to go, anecdotal evidence suggests that many potential voters in our region: 1. don’t know much, if anything, about individual candidates; 2. are unaware of arguments pro and con about the ballot question on a proposed state constitutional convention, and 3. are indifferent to local elections, citing them as a Sisyphus-like expense of energy and a waste of time. In Springs, where I serve as an elections inspector, the turnout at the last (primary) election was pitiable.

While it has been argued that increased numbers of voters in many areas on the East End would likely benefit Democrats over Republicans, especially if more newly enfranchised people turned out to vote, that view has not translated into action. For Democrats, some of whom are still fighting the Sanders-Clinton rift, the results have been self-defeating.

Cynicism is not only a cliché, it is impractical. Numbers count, psychologically as well as demographically, and attract money. Off-year elections presage larger contests, and none is more important for Democrats than capturing the congressional seat for Congressional District 1 held by Trump mini-me Lee Zeldin. Surely every registered Democrat in our region knows someone who is eligible to vote. Sending a so-called message by not voting discourages candidates who have civil and constructive contributions to make to the growth of our region and the fate of our country.

Let it be noted that, as mandated by the board of elections, inspectors with Democratic affiliation serve alongside Republican colleagues and respect the nonpartisan rules of service at the polls.

JOAN BAUM

participation – R&R – Reachout and Rebuild

Participate in Our Democracy

Let’s Vote