Election 2023: Climate Check
My concept for this year’s election guide, “Climate Check,” is not just about what used to be called “global warming,” but since we’re on the topic, the Earth’s climate situation seems awfully bad right about now. Ocean temperatures near Florida have been almost warm enough to lightly poach the seafood before pulling it onto the ship. Closer to home, we’re still reeling from the Marshall Fire just a few years ago, and while some of the worst fires were in Canada this summer, it would be foolhardy to believe fires or other natural disasters won’t strike in or near Boulder again before too long.
Heat is one thing, but on the other hand, people without shelter have frozen to death on our streets and we shouldn’t deny it’s likely to happen again. How will our local candidates and even ballot measures determine what might happen to the unsheltered, and are there hot conflicts between people favoring different approaches?
Older folks certainly remember the “cold war” between the U.S. and the Soviet Union, but perhaps we’re also witnessing a chill between local political factions in the Boulder area. Disagreement is natural in the political world, but people including myself are questioning – have we created a “colder Boulder” in which we can’t talk to each other? Is there hope for détente?
Back to heat – book banning is not exactly the same as book burning, but follow the national news regarding school boards and readers will probably notice that not many days go by without a new report of some type of censorship in the land of the free.
As those who already know me or about me probably know, I like local elections because we get a chance to really focus on local issues and personalities. Local elections really do provide a climate check, especially when it comes to whether local residents are comfortable or if they think we need to re-set the figurative thermostat. There are many other types of climate to consider this year – economic climate, and warmth or lack thereof among fellow humans when it comes to issues such as diversity or public safety – and of course there’s always just plain money in ballot measures having to do with taxation. That’s cold, hard cash.
No matter what, I hope readers will enjoy this Election Guide and vote after you get your ballot. Just click on the links to other pages at the right to learn more about your favorite or not-so-favorite candidates and ballot measures!
The Act of Voting
Election Day has come and gone! It’s too late to vote, but as of mid-day November 8 there was still quite a bit of counting to do. There’s one thing to mention about the act of voting – it’s not impossible that some voters might get notification from the County Clerk’s office that they need to “cure” their ballot. This might be because people forgot to sign their ballot envelope, or the signatures don’t match what’s on file, or for other reasons. Ballots that need curing won’t count until the voter cures their ballot, so I’ll recommend taking it seriously if you get a notification.
Voters can check local updated results at https://electionresults.bouldercounty.gov/ or State of Colorado results on the Secretary of State’s website – https://www.sos.state.co.us/.
I intend to write an election wrap-up within the next few days. This is partially because it might take a day or two just to learn the true City of Boulder election results. Thanks to everyone who checked out this site for election information!
Election Guide: Condensed Version
Election Day is here, and not everybody with last-minute questions about candidates or ballot measures will have time to read all of my posts on this website. I prepared a “condensed version” for folks who are short on time, with links to my detailed posts so people can check for more information.
Just click here to access information about the entire Boulder ballot on one post!
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