Aug 13, 2008 5:45 pm US/Eastern
A Ballot Of Trust For Children's Advocacy Group
Miami-Dade voters decide whether The Children's Trust becomes a permanent part of the community when the issue comes up for renewal on the Aug. 26th ballot.
MIAMI (CBS4) ―
Six years ago, voters in Miami-Dade County approved the creation of
The Children's Trust by a 2 to 1 margin. The issue comes up for renewal on the August 26th ballot.
In this year's vote, there is no organized opposition to the program, but backers said they are worried they are losing votes to a confused ballot.
On the sample ballot, the Children's Trust vote is listed along with other issues. But on the ballots which will be used when voters go to the polling booths, the question is the only issue on the back of the ballot, which some may not realize nor vote on.
People did not notice that the issue was on the backside of the new optical scan paper ballot.
Volunteer Virginia Sands explained that "most of them were coming out and saying we couldn't vote for you because you weren't on the ballot."
David Lawrence, Children's Trust Chairmen, told
CBS4 Reporter Michael Williams, "If
if this goes away it all goes away."
Miami-Dade election officials have alerted poll workers to remind voters to flip the ballot over, and said it would be placing large signs to remind voters.
The Children's Trust program sets aside public money to provide a funding base for children in desperate need. The Trust ensures that 92 cents out of every dollar goes for services rather than administration.
The 211 Helpline operates a 24-hour switchboard that connects parents and youths with programs and services that offer help. A $1 million grant to the county funded 68 community arts programs that involved more than 142,000 children in 2007. Nearly $50 million will be invested this year in summer and after-school programs.
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