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Residents turn out in record numbers for voter registration

By Christine Anne Piesyk | October 7, 2008 | Print This Post
 

In Montgomery County on Friday, October 3, the line of prospective voters stretched snakelike inside the building, out the door, and down the sidewalk: black, white, Hispanic, old, young. Soldiers, students, young moms, older men. All ready to sign on the dotted line. Today, October 6, the last day to register to vote, some 80 people were in line at 2:30 in the afternoon, patiently waiting to register. At Montgomery County Democratic Party headquarters on Saturday, several dozen prospective voters registered, with another 15 coming through the door by noon Monday.

With just hours to go, prospective voters wait in line to register at the Montgomery County Election Commission.

Kandi Johnson and Adam Green politicking at University Drive and Madison Street on Monday.

Given the appalling primary turnout (12%) in Montgomery County, this burst of energy and interest in the upcoming election is, to say the least, both refreshing and inspiring.

Political pundits are accustomed to voting records and voter histories to predict the course of any given election. It remains to be seen what this surge of “new blood” will bring to the politcal battlefield. What it does say is that initial interest sparked over the Iraq conflict and issues such as immigration has exploded into serious concern about the U.S. economy.

Hey, Washington. Pay attention. The people you represent are about to speak. Loudly. In greater numbers, it seems, than we have seen in decades.

The line was 80-deep at mid-afternoon at the Election Commission office.

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About Christine Anne Piesyk

    In my 40+ years in media, I have worked as feature writer, investigative reporter, editor, publisher, and film/theater/arts critic. I brought my liberal New England activism to Tennessee several years ago, having finally completed a mid-life undergraduate degree in community organizing and women's studies, and an MA in Interdisciplinary Arts with a concentration in Alzheimer's Disease. I served on Future Search Commissions for two colleges and on homelessness for the City of Northampton (MA), where I applied some of my undergrad work in urban planning and community development. I am a member of FreeThinkers for Peace and Civil Liberties. I am a certified storm spotter just because weather fascinates me. In my spare time (define spare time please?) I am a voracious reader, obsessive movie buff, ballroom dancer, and classical music junkie. I also create sci-fi/fantasy and renaissance costumes. I see life as an ongoing opportunity for learning and adventure (one current interest is mastering preparation of foods from India and Southeast Asia). My dream: a return trip to Machu Picchu. After all, the best things still to come. All posts by Christine Anne Piesyk as presented on Clarksville Online are copyright ©2006, 2007, 2008 to the author.

    Email: womanspeak@gmail.com

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