The Cobb County GOP placed a straw poll question on the Republican ballot concerning SPLOST;
“Do you believe that SPLOST (Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax) should only be held during the general election so as to maximize voter participation?” YES – NO
The results: YES = 33108 or 84.29% – NO = 6169 or 15.71%
Amazingly, 84% of Cobb GOP voters recognize the need to place tax questions on the general ballot where voter turn out is maximized. This comes after the September 2005 $1.2 billion SPLOST vote in Cobb where only 10% of registered voters voted. The SPLOST passed by only 114 votes (285 votes were registered as “non-votes” on a one issue ballot).
Why should SPLOST not be allowed on Primary and Special elections?
Politicians enjoy the benefits of voter apathy! The fewer voters that vote the more likely tax issues will pass. It’s that simple. There’s no tax issue so urgent that it can’t wait a few months to be placed on the general ballot.
As a Libertarian, I feel primary voting is a waste of tax dollars. Republicans and Democrats should choose their candidates in convention, as the law requires other political bodies to do, at their own expense and save the taxpayers millions of dollars.
Libertarians, independents, and other third party voters have little interest in voting in the primary elections. They are forced to choose a Democrat or Republican ticket in order to vote for or against a tax question.
Here are my recommendations:
- Reform SPLOST laws to only allow votes on November’s general ballot
- Require ballot question to first list Level One Projects first
- Require more specific ballot language so that voters know the full meaning of the question
- Print sample ballots in a font size that is easily read without a magnifier
With these few changes SPLOST issues will be made easier for voters to understand. There is no need for our government to try to trick the voters when it comes to tax issues. Let’s be fair… Let’s be real!
What’s your opinion?
James Bell
Posted by dctc 