Election Fails
There are two possible results of an election, winning and losing. Keep in mind; many wonderful projects have ended with an unsuccessful election. Sometimes even when you do everything right, other issues cause you to lose. Perhaps there was an unpopular item on the ballot that influenced the voter's decision; maybe your supporters didn't vote. The educational effort involved in districting may require a couple of unsuccessful elections before you succeed. Because failure is a possibility, take time to decide how to handle a lost election.
Realize that you and others in the districting effort will feel anger, discouragement, and disappointment. This will not be a good time to make decisions. This is why you need to make contingency plans.
Finding Alternatives
The election failure leaves the issues that originally created an interest in districting. You have three options:
- to try again
- to try another alternative
- to let the issue rest for a time.
Carry out the following tasks to determine what is the best of these three alternatives:
- Analyze the election campaign and results
- Re-examine districting alternatives based on the analysis
- Proceed with an alternative
Analyze the Election Campaign and Results
Analyzing the election campaign and results is an important task. Analyzing a campaign will help you decide what actions you should take after a failed election. Don't assess blame. Instead use the knowledge that you have to do things differently the next time around. Look at the precinct-by-precinct report of the election results. Are there areas where the vote was strong? Areas where it was weak? Were there any surprises? Were there areas where you expected strong support, but didn't see that materialize? Was there strong opposition in some parts of the proposed district? Try to understand the reasons behind the answers you receive.
As a group talk about the election. Here are some general questions you can ask yourself:
- Were there turning points in the election process - events that had a negative effect on the outcome? Could those events have been avoided and how?
- If the election was very close, what effect might another election have? Can you change the situation enough to make a difference in the outcome? Would another election soon after this election cause a backlash among voters?
Re-examine Alternatives
Re-examine all the alternatives in light of the election results.
- If the election was extremely close and it appears that corrective measures could change the results, you may want to try again.
- If the districting measure was strongly opposed in one geographic area, but supported in others, redraw the district lines. This may create a district where there is support.
- If the election results were overwhelmingly opposed to the district, you may want to wait.
Proceeding
Proceed with a new course of action, once you have analyzed the campaign and results. Disband the group, if you choose to wait until later.
If you want to try another election, return to the drawing board. Make the necessary changes in the dates and procedures to be used. Think about how to market the proposal and make it acceptable to the electorate. Pay attention to the arguments opponents made against the district and take corrective action.
ASPeN: The New Library Directory
- Home
- Introduction To Public Library Districts
- What Are Districts?
- Pros And Cons Of Library Districts
- Difference Between Library Districts And Other Types Of Libraries
- Who To Contact For Help?
- Exploring Library Districts and Gauging Support for a District Effort
- Research The Districting Option
- Decide on Whether or Not to Create A Committee To Explore District Option
- Decide on Boundaries and Name of the District
- Decide on Services the District Might Offer
- Create a Budget for the District
- Determine the Amount of Mills You Will Need Levied
- Talk to Local Government Officials
- Talk to Library Supporters
- Decide Whether or Not to Move Forward With the District Option
- Exploring Library Districts Checklist
- Forming a District Group - The Role of Local Government Officials and the New Board
- Create an Official District Planning Group/Committee
- Coordinating Local Government Efforts
- The New Board of Trustees
- Forming a District Group Checklist
- Special Considerations
- Planning for Facilities
- Funding For The First Year
- Accounting, Legal, Maintenance Costs
- Transfer Of Staff And Benefits
- Special Considerations Checklist
- Pursuing the District: Legal Options For Forming A District
- Option 1: County Commissioners Pass a Resolution Putting the Library District Issue on the Ballot
- Option 2: Create the district through a petition process and then a resolution by the County Commissioners
- Develop A Map And Description Of The Boundaries Of The New District
- Decide Upon The Maximum Mill Levy That You Want For The District
- Decide On The Number Of Board Members
- Decide On When You Want To Hold The Election
- Draft The Petition
- Circulate The Petitions And Supporting Materials
- The Hearing With The County Commissioners
- Legal Options Checklist
- Election Process
- Create an Election Committee
- Create an Election Calendar
- Create a Public Relations Plan and Design Public Relations Material
- Present Your Idea to the Community
- Get Out the Vote on Election Day
- Conducting the Election
- Results Certification, Canvassing, and the Creation Order
- Election Process Checklist
- Outcomes Of The Effort
- Success
- Election Fails
- Appendices