Morning Post: A here we go now

You can vote now, so go do it. Really.

Early voting is one of the great advances of the 21st century. Enjoy it. Back in the last millennium, we used to have a thing called Election Day. When I wrote for a bi-weekly paper, Election Day nights–ahead of the Wednesday edition–were rip-roaring. But the rule for stories in the Sunday issue prior to the election was strictly by the book–name, rank and serial number. When I started, everyone on the staff hated writing those stories. So, so for a dozen or so primaries, elections and referendums running, I got to pen such riveting pieces as “Orange County ballot features 27 contests” and “Primary offers full ballot of local and statewide races.”

Even though the stories seemed like little more than lists, there was a heck of lot more information in them than the ballot. (And, let’s face it; most people go into the booth woefully unprepared.) My personal rule was that in addition to name and office sought, everyone got at least one descriptive phrase. Even odd people who could not be found. It was a hard thing to do actually–assign a short description to a stranger or, harder still, somebody you’d watch work for years. And, all the time, you’re shooting for fairness; not shying away from the truth, but nothing gratuitous. Try it sometime.

Meanwhile, enjoy the internets:

• The Char-O reports on a lovely land deal and some political donors
• N&O writes the dog don’t hunt story
• Great Citizen-Times story on history of The Ritz–once the meeting place for a secret African-American benevolent society
• ACLU suing Asheville over march
• Couple of good editorials about the new report that details the lack of internal auditors in the state
• Carrboro Mayor Mark Chilton offers a good breakdown of judicial races