Fall...The season we call Fall was once referred to simply
as “harvest” to reflect the time when farmers gathered crops for winter
storage, roughly between August and November. It's the time of year that means
many different things to people. The
changing of the leaves, the brisk breezes that start with that first frost, the
fields full of rust colored crops on the outskirts of Greenville that shortly
disappear over time.
More with the days of mass media, it also brings about the
thought of elections and politics. We
are constantly bombarded with debates and information to make us informed
citizens. It is our ability to vote in
this country that gives us a say in our inner workings. It is the basis of a democracy and the intent
of our forefathers.
So why are elections held on a Fall Tuesday? The answer lies
with America’s 19th-century agrarian makeup. In the 1800s, most citizens worked
as farmers and lived far from their polling place. People often traveled at
least a day to vote, so lawmakers allowed a two-day window for Elections. Most
people spent Sundays in church, and Wednesday was market day for farmers. With
this in mind, Tuesday was selected as the first, most convenient day of the
week to hold elections. Farm culture also explains why Election Day always
falls in November. Spring and early summer elections were thought to interfere
with the planting season, and late summer and early fall elections overlapped
with the harvest. November was the best choice since harvest was complete, but
prior to the arrival of harsh winter weather.
Congress passed a federal law designating the first Tuesday,
following the first Monday in November as Election Day. Before then, states
were allowed to hold elections any time they pleased within a 34-day period
before the first Wednesday in December, but this system had a few crucial
flaws. Knowing the early voting results could affect turnout and sway opinion
in states that held late elections, and those same last-minute voters could
potentially decide the outcome of the entire election. Faced with these issues,
Congress created the current Election Day in the hope of streamlining the
voting process.
This election day, there is a renewal on the ballot for
Greenville City School District, also known as Issue 6 on your ballot. Since March of 1996, this levy has been
brought to the ballot five times with successful passage by the voters of the
district. This levy represents no change
in taxes, since it receives no inflationary increases with values. It brings
approximately 1.8 million dollars to the district annually and supports
education within our district.
The levy is for general operations. This money has always been spent for district
maintenance, school busses, school books, salaries and whatever it takes to
keep the daily operations going for the good of students.
There will be no new taxes from the passage of this levy.
Please be sure to vote in the November 3rd Election. Remember Issue 6 is the renewal issue for
Greenville City Schools.