Early voting guide
While early voting has made the process of casting a ballot easier -- I only vote early now -- it has caused a problem for the newspaper as we have tried to figure out how to give newspaper readers timely information about the candidates and the issues. If we roll out our elections coverage for the beginning of early voting, then people who don't pay a lot of attention until a few days before the actual Election Day have missed it. If we wait to time it to Election Day, we have not served those who vote early. We'll do the same for the General Election.
Unfortunately, we don't have the space to publish everything we need to twice.
One solution: On Sunday, we will publish a one-page election guide that will provide capsule biographical and political information on each of the 32 Greensboro City Council candidates. It's not comprehensive, by any means. For that, we must direct you here.
Yes, I know that Solution Two is to send everyone online where we have much more information. We're doing that, too.
I hope it will help people prepare to make some important voting decisions. While this next point is arguable, I believe it: local elected officials implement policies that have much more impact on our lives that those on the national level. That so many fewer people don't bother to vote in these "off-year" elections is shameful.
Update: Allen Johnson and Eddie Wooten appear on appear on A&T Today on WNAA at 10 a.m. Friday to talk about the town hall meetings we're sponsoring for Districts 1 & 3.