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This election season doesn't have the glitz of last year's in which the historic presidential race – an African American was the Democrats' nominee for president and a woman the Republicans' nominee for vice president, both firsts – dominated headlines. But this year's races are at least as critical to this region's future as those top-of-the-ticket contests a year ago.
So as early voting starts today for Charlotte's city primaries, this editorial board is starting a campaign of our own – a campaign of nagging. We plan to push, prod, even shame you into exercising that most precious right of citizenship – casting an informed vote.
On the primary ballot are key races: the Republican mayoral race, Democratic and Republican at-large Charlotte City Council races and contested Democratic races for council districts 1, 2 and 5. The district races will be decided in voting that begins today and ends Sept. 15, primary day. If you don't get engaged now, learn about these candidates and vote, you'll be letting someone else pick your representative.
Off-presidential year elections typically don't lure large numbers of voters. This year, a big drop-off is expected from the 65 percent in Mecklenburg County who voted last year.
In 2007, just 24 percent of those eligible voted. That was the last time Charlotte's mayoral race was on the ballot. This year, voters get to pick a mayor again – and for the first time in 14 years Pat McCrory is not a contender.
It's a crucial time for Charlotte's future – and the region's future. Choices made for mayor and City Council will help shape the direction this area will take. They aren't the only important races though.
Nonpartisan Charlotte-Mecklenburg school board races are on the ballot in the general election. Five of the six district seats are up for grabs. Incumbents are leaving the board in three districts, and the other two have replacements who were appointed in the past few months after the elected representatives became Mecklenburg County commissioners. That means the nine-member CMS board will be mostly new after the November election.
If you haven't registered to vote, you've missed the deadline for the primaries. But you can still register to vote in the general election. That deadline is Oct. 9. Early voting begins Oct. 15. Election Day is Nov. 3.
Don't sit on the sidelines and just gripe about your political representation. Educate yourself about the candidates and issues and vote. You can start today.
