A local issue was not on my ballot, my voice wasn’t heard
letter to the editor
To the Editor:
I am a bit puzzled by a recent event. I have lived in the Village of Lodi (Medina County) since 1977. I have made it a practice to do my civic duty and vote in almost every election since I was 18 years of age.
In the May 2, 2017 election, I went to the polls where I always vote and gave the fine ladies there my driver’s license. She checked me in, verified my signature and gave me the voting “card” to take to the voting machine. I looked over the ballot, chose the “for” or “against” button for the only issue on my ballot. It was a request for more funds for the Medina County Library. I completed my ballot, checked it all over for accuracy, pushed the button to cast my ballot and looked at the poll worker and asked her, “Is this all there is?” She said yes as it was not a major election. I went home and thought nothing more of it.
The following week, the Southern Medina Post gave the election results for issues around the county. I noted that the library issue had passed and then found one more article about the Lodi Fire Department’s levy that was on the ballot and noted it also had passed. What? I live about 600 feet from the fire department and there was no issue on my ballot regarding this request for additional funds!
I thought about it for a bit while trying to play keep-up with the growing lawn. It puzzled me why I had no chance to vote on this levy that will affect my budget. I called the Medina County Board of Elections. A pleasant lady answered my call, took my name, listened to my question and pulled up my most recent ballot. She asked me if I could “hold” for a minute while she checked it. I indicated I would wait because I wanted to know if I mistakenly passed over something on the voting machine. After about six minutes, she came back on the line and told me she could not answer my question and gave me three names of people I could contact for answers but no phone numbers. None of them are on village council, so I will have to go sleuthing some more to find out what is going on. I live within one mile of Village Hall so I don’t understand why this local issue was not available for me to have my voice heard.
Kathie Ploskonka
Lodi
I am a bit puzzled by a recent event. I have lived in the Village of Lodi (Medina County) since 1977. I have made it a practice to do my civic duty and vote in almost every election since I was 18 years of age.
In the May 2, 2017 election, I went to the polls where I always vote and gave the fine ladies there my driver’s license. She checked me in, verified my signature and gave me the voting “card” to take to the voting machine. I looked over the ballot, chose the “for” or “against” button for the only issue on my ballot. It was a request for more funds for the Medina County Library. I completed my ballot, checked it all over for accuracy, pushed the button to cast my ballot and looked at the poll worker and asked her, “Is this all there is?” She said yes as it was not a major election. I went home and thought nothing more of it.
The following week, the Southern Medina Post gave the election results for issues around the county. I noted that the library issue had passed and then found one more article about the Lodi Fire Department’s levy that was on the ballot and noted it also had passed. What? I live about 600 feet from the fire department and there was no issue on my ballot regarding this request for additional funds!
I thought about it for a bit while trying to play keep-up with the growing lawn. It puzzled me why I had no chance to vote on this levy that will affect my budget. I called the Medina County Board of Elections. A pleasant lady answered my call, took my name, listened to my question and pulled up my most recent ballot. She asked me if I could “hold” for a minute while she checked it. I indicated I would wait because I wanted to know if I mistakenly passed over something on the voting machine. After about six minutes, she came back on the line and told me she could not answer my question and gave me three names of people I could contact for answers but no phone numbers. None of them are on village council, so I will have to go sleuthing some more to find out what is going on. I live within one mile of Village Hall so I don’t understand why this local issue was not available for me to have my voice heard.
Kathie Ploskonka
Lodi
