Special Election: Johnson County Justice Center

Around about one-thirty I cast the 121st ballot at my precinct for today’s justice center special election. And for the second time in seven months I voted in favor of a bond to build a new jail and modernize the county courthouse.

Much like in November, the justice center needs a 60 percent supermajority to be approved. (Why? I have no clue — again. I assume — again! — that it is because it is a bond issue.) And, once again, I am unsure if it will get that. I really have no gut feeling either way, though, but it would not surprise me either way. Turnout will be much lower than it was in November — unsurprisingly, the auditor’s website pegs the county-wide turnout at six o’clock at a whopping 8.48 percent — so much of the final result will reflect which side of the coin made the most effort to vote. I will eagerly await the final results, which I think will be pretty interesting.

Honestly, though I think a new “justice center” is needed, I would not be bummed if it was shot down again. This is a tricky issue and I think the proponents and opponents both have their points. “Our jail is overcrowded, outdated, and unsafe. The courthouse is woefully outdated, overcrowded, and unsafe. And we spend millions housing inmates in different counties.” “If they build it, they will fill it. The jail is filled with nonviolent drug offenders, drunk college students, and a disproportionate number of minorities.” All seem to me to be valid points, if not facts. However, the pragmatist in me won out — again.

I understand the points the vote “no” crowd was making, but I think those issues are much larger than Johnson County. I feel that the pointless “War on Drugs,” our woeful racial and socio-economic disparities, and (to a lesser extent) the immaturity and stupidity of college students are things we need to address as a state and nation. Can we solve those things in Johnson County by voting against a new jail and modernized courthouse? I doubt it. It would send a message — but our courthouse would still be outdated and unsafe, and our jail would still be overcrowded with nonviolent drug offenders, drunk college students, and a disproportionate number of minorities. (Way to go, kid!)

Anyway. My polling place is the ol’ alma mater: City High. The voting area was in its usual place in the expanded gym foyer. I walked up to the registration table and the poll worker handed me the sign-in form to fill out. While I filled it out, she said: “When I saw you I thought more young people like that need to vote.” Okay… When I handed my form to the next woman at the table, checking the registration rolls, the woman handing out the ballots pushed a “I voted” button to me and said, “Your first time? You need to take one of these!” Uh… I kept my mouth shut. When I confirmed my birth date, the ladies working the sign-in section overheard and looked at each other. Yeah: I’m thirty. This is the third time I have cast a vote regarding a new jail. After I fed my ballot into the machine, I kindly refused a button (or whatever it is called): “I have too many of those already.”