By Juan Montoya
The Cameron County Elections Office calculates that there are 84,849 registered voters in the City of Brownsville. In the current elections for three commissioner positions, 2,801 had voted so far. Two of the elections are in single-member districts. That's a bit more than 21,000 registered voters per district. Those are District 3 candidates William Garza and Joel Munguia. The District 4 race pits incumbent John Villarreal against challenger Ben Neece.
The At-Large "B" race pits incumbent Rose Gowen against challenger Erasmo Castro. In that election, all 84,849 registered voters are eligible to cast ballots.
It is estimated that 60 percent of the votes are cast in early voting. With early voting coming to an end today, we'll be lucky if we reach 3,500 early votes, it means that there might be another 1,400 votes cast on Saturday, Election Day, less than 5,000 votes. (Click on graphic above to enlarge)
That means that less than 6 percent of the city's registered voters will decide the political representation of the city. To put it clearer, those 5,000 will decide the representation of the estimated 200,000 city residents, or to put it another way, about 2.5 percent of the population will choose its representatives who will decide how the resources of the city get allotted.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
We compare it to a lifeboat with 20 people allowing one and one-half of the occupants to decide who will get water, food and shelter.
The local newspaper has not helped. In its latest story on the District 4 race, and another story before on other races, it has told its readers that early voting ends May 4, on Thursday, instead of May 2. Has this created confusion among some voters who may think they have another two days to vote and put off going to the polls?
We are fortunate to have the luxury of choosing our own political representatives. Let's not take this right for granted. Please vote.)
The Cameron County Elections Office calculates that there are 84,849 registered voters in the City of Brownsville. In the current elections for three commissioner positions, 2,801 had voted so far. Two of the elections are in single-member districts. That's a bit more than 21,000 registered voters per district. Those are District 3 candidates William Garza and Joel Munguia. The District 4 race pits incumbent John Villarreal against challenger Ben Neece.
The At-Large "B" race pits incumbent Rose Gowen against challenger Erasmo Castro. In that election, all 84,849 registered voters are eligible to cast ballots.
It is estimated that 60 percent of the votes are cast in early voting. With early voting coming to an end today, we'll be lucky if we reach 3,500 early votes, it means that there might be another 1,400 votes cast on Saturday, Election Day, less than 5,000 votes. (Click on graphic above to enlarge)
That means that less than 6 percent of the city's registered voters will decide the political representation of the city. To put it clearer, those 5,000 will decide the representation of the estimated 200,000 city residents, or to put it another way, about 2.5 percent of the population will choose its representatives who will decide how the resources of the city get allotted.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
We compare it to a lifeboat with 20 people allowing one and one-half of the occupants to decide who will get water, food and shelter.
The local newspaper has not helped. In its latest story on the District 4 race, and another story before on other races, it has told its readers that early voting ends May 4, on Thursday, instead of May 2. Has this created confusion among some voters who may think they have another two days to vote and put off going to the polls?
We are fortunate to have the luxury of choosing our own political representatives. Let's not take this right for granted. Please vote.)
