By:  Diane Benjamin

If you are voting in the Primary March 15th:

If a candidate is running unopposed, and you really don’t think that person is doing a good job – LEAVE the space BLANK!

Why?

• The candidate is going to be on the November ballot regardless of your vote or no vote.
• The candidate will look at how many votes they received.  Let’s say a total of 10,000 voted, but that person only got 1,500 votes.  It sends a clear message to the candidate:  We really don’t like you!
• A message is also sent to potential opponents for the next Primary – voters want a NEW choice.
• If you are tired of sending the same people back to Springfield and DC election after election without having choices – leaving their vote blank is the fastest way to create competition.

You will see a lot of uncontested races, but you will see a few contested races.  Establishment candidates who have been in office for a long time WILL have money to campaign, many opponents won’t.  The media drive elections, so chances are good opponents aren’t being covered.  For instance, the Chicago Tribune endorsed Mark Kirk without ever talking to James Marter.  Many candidates attempt to ignore their competition because they don’t want voters to know they have any.  If you vote for names you know, you are doing exactly what they expect you to do.

Primaries are where the GREAT candidates lose because they can’t afford to get their message out to voters.  Do some research before you vote!

Sample County ballots can be found here:  http://www.mcleancountyil.gov/index.aspx?NID=191

Sample City of Bloomington ballots are available here:  http://www.becvote.org/wordpress/