Without changes, voter turnout will drop even lower
Published September 5, 2004
Editor: Congratulations must go to Annie Williams, Hernando County Supervisor of Elections, and her entire staff for the way they handled the election.
Ms. Williams adopted the present ballot system before the fiasco about the "chad ballots." This system is very simple to use, allows recounts and is basically error-free.
Many other counties paid a fortune for touch-screen ballots and have had all kinds of problems. This was a very good decision on Ms. Williams' part.
According to the Times, she is disappointed about the low voter turnout and said she will try to do better next time. Ms. Williams, it is not your fault.
The presidential campaign started more than 11/2 years ago, and most voters are sick and tired of all the name-calling and the bitter fighting between a lot of the candidates and with the false claims. People don't vote because they are fed up with all of this and don't find many candidates attractive enough to support, or worth the trip to the polls to vote.
Until they shorten all campaigning to six months, eliminate the conventions and stop wasting millions of dollars, fewer and fewer people will turn out to vote.
-- Gordon Richardson, Spring Hill
Trying to decipher sign rules for garage sales vs. campaigns
Editor: Let me see if I have this straight. If I put up one small garage sale sign on one corner for a total of two days, I am breaking the law and will be dealt a hefty fine.
However, if I am a political candidate, I can erect numerous, large signs on as many corners as I want, for as long as I want, and no one will say or do anything about it.
I can also leave them up after the election is done, because sooner or later they will fall over or someone else will remove them.
Does this picture look right to you?
-- Robin R. Bauer, Spring Hill
EDITOR'S NOTE: There is a law that requires all candidates to keep their signs off the county right-of-way. Also, losing candidates must remove their signs within 14 days of the election. After that, they may be seized by Code Enforcement and the candidate fined.
-- Pet owner wants to know why pet license fees sent to Texas
Re: Keep pet license money in Spring Hill, Sept. 1 letter to the editor:
Editor: I also am a taxpayer in Hernando County and a pet owner.
I would like some answers about why we have to send our money for pet licenses to Texas. As letter writer Joyce Mix said, this makes no sense.
-- Cathy Ribbe, Hernando Beach
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