New Walton County Precincts Needed

[DuneLaker]

With the 2010 census approaching, now is the time to request that new precinct lines be drawn in Walton County. There is a huge discrepancy between the numbers of voters squeezed into just a few precincts in South Walton as compared to North Walton. While the South Walton precincts have thousands that must contend for a space at the voting booth on election day, there are only around 100 in some North Walton precincts. There is reason to believe that the numbers for South Walton were undercounted in 2000 census. Having equal and balanced precincts might help in the process as well as give voters in South Walton an equal voting opportunity.

[wrobert]

With the 2010 census approaching, now is the time to request that new precinct lines be drawn in Walton County. There is a huge discrepancy between the numbers of voters squeezed into just a few precincts in South Walton as compared to North Walton. While the South Walton precincts have thousands that must contend for a space at the voting booth on election day, there are only around 100 in some North Walton precincts. There is reason to believe that the numbers for South Walton were undercounted in 2000 census. Having equal and balanced precincts might help in the process as well as give voters in South Walton an equal voting opportunity.

With opportunities for mail in voting via absentee and early voting, if someone stands in line to vote, that is pretty much a personal choice.

But if you have a specific concern, Bobby Beasley would certainly be open to discuss it with you. They recently split off the Rosemary Beach area into a precinct. Personally, I think that precinct consolidation is where we need to go. It is getting more and more difficult to find poll workers from what I hear, and the costs of running the 34, I think, precincts in Walton County have got to be going up with ADA compliance and maintaining voting equipment.

[DuneLaker]

Yes. There is a new Rosemary Beach precinct. I do agree with you that precinct consolidation needs to take place. There is certainly a potential to save some money here. However, the precincts in South Walton need to be subdivided more with consolidation in North Walton. Bobby Beasley would be very helpful, I agree. A listing of the precincts and the count for each would be helpful. Maybe someone has it handy to post. It is usually broken down by precinct, voters, and by party affiliation. A lot of people do early vote. What is that percentage now? Over 50%? But, that leaves 50% left to stand in line at the overcrowded South Walton precincts. A more even/equal distribution would fulfill the one person, one vote requirement.

[ckhagen]

I had people observing at pretty much every South Walton precinct on Primary Day and I don't recall their ever being a line that required more than 2 or 3 minutes wait. Not saying we couldn't use one or two more (and I agree about consolidation in the North end), but I don't think the lines were awful or anything. Miramar and Santa Rosa Beach could probably both use to be broken down into two.

[DuneLaker]

Freeport, precinct #11 and North DeFuniak #14 are both very large. Travel time to the polling place could also be a consideration. Would be interesting to see how other counties divide up their precincts. Believe Bay County has fairly equal numbers.

[DuneLaker]

Since this is a Presidential year, and interest seems to be up, numbers will be higher.

[wrobert]

Since this is a Presidential year, and interest seems to be up, numbers will be higher.

I doubt you see any changes this year. Ballots and other things would have to be in place. You have to find ADA compliant locations. Equipment to be bought in a very tight budget year. And volunteers to work and be trained for a very important election. I do not think that this is enough time to get things in place at this late date.

www.votewaltoncounty.com is the website for the SOE.

http://www.votewaltoncounty.com/Registration.htm gets you the reports that are available that should give you the details that you are looking for.

South Walton is such a peculiar area when it comes to turn out. For the special school tax election turnout in Miramar was 7 or 8%. For primaries it is usually low, but in general elections it is very high. I come across voters all the time that have never missed a general election, and never voted in any other election.

[ShallowsNole]

It's going to be tough to consolidate in the the north end. A bunch of people in Alaqua got pizzed when the polling place was moved to Woodlawn. It becomes even more proprietary north of DeFuniak

[DuneLaker]

Consolidation certainly would not come easy. Would probably even take an inquiry from the United States Justice Department that oversees redistricting, etc. to do. The disparity is so large, if an inquiry was ever made, changes would probably be required. This would take the heat off the local elections office. This is an election year for that position.

[DuneLaker]

Web sites are not working for information at this time. Need to stop by Elections Office in the South Walton Annex and just ask for a hard copy when by that way. Usually they have it on a good one page format.

[wrobert]

This is an election year for that position.

Nope. That position occurs in the off years in Walton County and I believe one other county in Florida.

[DuneLaker]

Did it change with the special election?

[wrobert]

Did it change with the special election?

Walton County has always been that way as far back as I can remember. It had something to do with the initial legislation. Bobby could probably answer that. But we just re-elected him during the 2006 election. The office is up again in 2010.

[DuneLaker]

Thanks for the clairfication. That is good news that our Supervisor of Elections Bobby Beasley would be able to look into this or give an opinion without having an election coming up right away. The discussion needs to start now to be ready for the redistricting that will follow the 2010 census.

[DuneLaker]

All right. Here are the numbers for registered voters by precinct, as of Friday, April 11, 2008. And WOW look at the voters crammed into Precinct 29, Miramar Beach -- 6,070. I don't care if half the voters vote early or by absentee, this is an imbalance that must be fixed. Precinct 14 in North DeFuniak is very large, too. Precinct 31 does not exist. Think it was eliminated some time ago. Precinct 32 Douglass has only 71 !!! Five precincts have less than 200 total voters each. A discussion on consolidation to save taxpayer money on polling places as well as provide a balanced voting opportunity across the county should take place. This election in 2008 could be more like 2000 than 2002, 2004 or 2006. Something should be done before the Primary or certainly by the General Election. Whenever, something has to be done. The right to an equal and fair vote is more important than people not being happy about making a change. At least be aware how unfair the precinct lines are and how this might affect open and honest elections. Some political operatives count on South Walton not showing up in the Primary for a number of reasons. This further dilutes the vote of South Walton until and unless this is remedied.

Precinct 1 Pleasant Valley -- 156
Precinct 2 Eucheeanna -- 664
Precinct 3 Glendale -- 588
Precinct 4 Darlington -- 260
Precinct 5 Paxton -- 617
Precinct 6 New Harmony -- 709
Precinct 7 Argyle -- 808
Precinct 8 Alaqua -- 617
Precinct 9 Gaskin -- 442
Precinct 10 Portland -- 612
Precinct 11 Freeport --2,975
Precinct 12 Red Bay -- 183
Precinct 13 Bruce -- 542
Precinct 14 North DeFuniak --4,225
Precinct 15 Pt. Washington --2,188
Precinct 16 Mossy Head --1,290
Precinct 17 Liberty -- 415
Precinct 18 Santa Rosa Beach-4,195
Precinct 19 Sandy Creek -- 313
Precinct 20 Chautauqua --1,251
Precinct 21 Caney Creek -- 134
Precinct 22 Valley View -- 239
Precinct 23 West DeFuniak -- 766
Precinct 24 Pleasant Ridge -- 661
Precinct 25 Children's Home -- 270
Precinct 26 Limestone -- 137
Precinct 27 Clear Springs -- 202
Precinct 28 Moores -- 208
Precinct 29 Miramar Beach --6,070
Precinct 30 Flowersview -- 114
Precinct 32 Douglass -- 71
Precinct 33 Choctaw Beach --1,097
Precinct 34 Rosemary Beach --1,070

[wrobert]

All right. Here are the numbers for registered voters by precinct, as of Friday, April 11, 2008. And WOW look at the voters crammed into Precinct 29, Miramar Beach -- 6,070. I don't care if half the voters vote early or by absentee, this is an imbalance that must be fixed. Precinct 14 in North DeFuniak is very large, too. Precinct 31 does not exist. Think it was eliminated some time ago. Precinct 32 Douglass has only 71 !!! Five precincts have less than 200 total voters each. A discussion on consolidation to save taxpayer money on polling places as well as provide a balanced voting opportunity across the county should take place. This election in 2008 could be more like 2000 than 2002, 2004 or 2006. Something should be done before the Primary or certainly by the General Election. Whenever, something has to be done. The right to an equal and fair vote is more important than people not being happy about making a change. At least be aware how unfair the precinct lines are and how this might affect open and honest elections. Some political operatives count on South Walton not showing up in the Primary for a number of reasons. This further dilutes the vote of South Walton until and unless this is remedied.

South Walton historically does not show up in a primary. Numbers are lower in all precincts but they are decidely lower in a primary in south Walton.

Precincts are handled by having larger places to vote, more machines, more workers at larger precincts than at smaller precincts. I can find no law that say precincts have to be the same in size.

There is not enough time to change precincts this election cycle and educate everyone before November. If this was started I would imagine you would get objections from a wide group of people, excluding you.

There is no extra money to take on a project like this.

[SWGB]

wrobert, have you looked over the Elections budget? Just asking.

[Aggie]

This could be easily accomplished with very little $$ if the SOE had interest, Robert .. this is not rocket science .. simply evening out the populations of the various precincts in Walton County to be more even and fair based on population across the county.

[wrobert]

wrobert, have you looked over the Elections budget? Just asking.

No, just making a logical assumption. There is a minimum expense for a precinct if it has 10 or 1000 voters. Each place has to be ADA compliant, the county has always handled that expense in the past. The BCC budget where the election funding comes from was reduced 9% last year. This year there will be a freeze if not a drop in revenue. All of this stuff has to be done by August 26th, as well as educating people about new precincts, printing new cards. And doing it in the biggest election cycle.

And on top of that, I have not seen an argument that precincts being different sizes causes any problems. The shift has been toward early and mail voting with participation at precincts falling. Would it not be cheaper to continue to educate people as to those options?

[wrobert]

This could be easily accomplished with very little $$ if the SOE had interest, Robert .. this is not rocket science .. simply evening out the populations of the various precincts in Walton County to be more even and fair based on population across the county.

How is it unfair now? Unfair to who? During the special election for the school tax, what was it, 89 out of 6000 showed up to vote in Miramar? Was it a problem for them waiting in line when we usually have 3000? I have never voted down there or even be there on election day. Are there lines and problems?

[DuneLaker]

The entire United States goes through a redistriciting process every ten years after a census to provide more even and fair districts. It is one of the most important political processes that occurs. The one person, one vote concept provides a strong pillar in this redistricing process to provide a fair vote for all. One way it is not fair locally-- The political parties in Walton County are controlled and organized around precincts. There are four South Walton precincts now, and 29 North Walton precincts. Even with some number adjustments and allowances, South Walton is not equally and fairly represented. You have both a size and total number of precincts issue. A precinct person that only has 71 people to contact and encourage to go vote clearly does not have the same equal and fair challenge a precinct worker who has several thousand. If a goal was to save taxpayer money, consolidating precincts and not having to have so many little places have to meet all those expensive ADA requirements might just do it. If a goal is to provide a fair vote and increase voter participation, a new voting precinct in Sandestin might just do it. South Walton's numbers were doing better in some past elections. It could be another long discussion as to why numbers are down for all voters.

[wrobert]

The entire United States goes through a redistriciting process every ten years after a census to provide more even and fair districts. It is one of the most important political processes that occurs. The one person, one vote concept provides a strong pillar in this redistricing process to provide a fair vote for all. One way it is not fair locally-- The political parties in Walton County are controlled and organized around precincts. There are four South Walton precincts now, and 29 North Walton precincts. Even with some number adjustments and allowances, South Walton is not equally and fairly represented. You have both a size and total number of precincts issue. A precinct person that only has 71 people to contact and encourage to go vote clearly does not have the same equal and fair challenge a precinct worker who has several thousand. If a goal was to save taxpayer money, consolidating precincts and not having to have so many little places have to meet all those expensive ADA requirements might just do it. If a goal is to provide a fair vote and increase voter participation, a new voting precinct in Sandestin might just do it. South Walton's numbers were doing better in some past elections. It could be another long discussion as to why numbers are down for all voters.

Having sat on the Redistricting Committee for Walton County in the past, I am well aware of what redistricting is. But what I have yet to understand is what do precincts have to do with representation? The parties can add additional precinct persons based on the number of registered voters in a precinct. So that part is handled. What is not handled is that the volunteers are not showing up to make the contacts. How, having additional precincts is going to fix that is beyond me. I am trying to understand what you are saying, but so far I am lost. Please, see if you can come at me from a different direction and maybe it will fall into place.

And the entire United States does not redistrict. If there is no significant change in population within the districts they are left alone.

[DuneLaker]

The entire United States does go through a redistricting process. I sat on a state redistricting board in the past. In areas where there has been extreme growth, like South Walton, there is often change. Each state does it a little different. In some, the state legislature handles, in other states, a private board appointed by the governor makes the decisions that ultimately go to the United States Justice Department for final approval of plan. We really should be more involved this next time and not get "messed over" with our Congressional districts etc. My observation of the local Walton County redistricting process was that it was lacking on many levels. And the part about adding precinct people, doesn't handle the issue. I disagree with you. If we had a more fair system in Walton County, precinct leaders from the new precincts might be more available. There are as about as many old, historical communities of interest in South Walton as North Walton. There could be a Seagrove precinct, a Blue Mountain precinct, etc. Cut down the total number of 33 precincts, divide up the numbers, save some money, increase voter turnout, be fair and equal.

[wrobert]

My observation of the local Walton County redistricting process was that it was lacking on many levels. And the part about adding precinct people, doesn't handle the issue. I disagree with you. If we had a more fair system in Walton County, precinct leaders from the new precincts might be more available. There are as about as many old, historical communities of interest in South Walton as North Walton. There could be a Seagrove precinct, a Blue Mountain precinct, etc. Cut down the total number of 33 precincts, divide up the numbers, save some money, increase voter turnout, be fair and equal.

What precinct is it that you lead?