Summer Storms

Once past Memorial Day, the weather usually breaks in the midwest, so that sunny skies are prevalent. Tossing off the white of winter, the world begins to adorn itself with colors of beryl and bice, giving light to things anew. The skies open up, producing sun rays and showers alike, a cathartic mix of water and warm winds that produces in the person a calming sensation.

It is the time of vacations and long weekends; family gatherings and great escapes; early departures and late arrivals, signaling a change of seasons. The great malaise of summer encroaches on the sensibilities of daily decisions.

It is these annual doldrums of the summer solstice that worry veteran election candidates and give emerging hopes to new aspriants for office. The low voter turn out in the primaries of summer often put incumbents into caution mode and allow challengers to see opportuinties for upset victories.

The faithful voter usually makes sure that they do their civic duty, and they usually encourage other to do the same. There is a sense of regularity for these voters: I must cast my ballot; my pilgrammage is not passive- it is an expression of my idenity.

There are those who never pay attention to the primary. Why bother? I vote when it really matters, for the big elections; its vacation time or time to be out doors. See you in the fall.

In the center are the well-meaning voters who fall prey to temporal matters, those who fail to plan out the time to make it to the polls and consequently, may or may not vote. They are not always successful in casting ballots for tactical or logistical reasons: the line is too long, it will take too much time, they have moved my polling place, I would get there too late.

These things are not evident to them as their day starts, but it comes upon them like severe summer storm; sudden and unexpected; filled with instant fury to blow them off course; derailing them by diverting their attention to exigent issues.

Summer storms have been known to overturn trees and apple carts alike, and knocking out power to those accustomed to it.

The fear of the incumbent is that these particular voters will fail to cast their ballots, giving the challengers the advantage. Power losses occur often in the summertime and not just in power companies.

Just like planning for inclement weather; one must plan for the unexpected in voting and be prepared to exercise great patience and flexibility. While it is not conceiveable to prepare for every emergency, it is possible to give your self options- absentee ballots, voting at the clerk's office instead of your precinct, voting early as possible in case problems occur. Taking your voter registration card and other proper ID, and lastly getting educated days ahead of time. Without these steps, your candidate may not be successful.

Beware of the summer storm that comes unawares. Power loss may be imminent.