Editor’s Note: We received this letter prior to the publishing of Friday’s paper that included the article titled “4th District to hold primary election,” which contained information about the candidates. However, the opinion page had already been sent to the press, resulting in the publication of this letter being pushed back a day

To the Editor:

Re: “Redrawn Virginia congressional districts to stay” June 1,2016

Rebecca Chappell is correct in that this is the big news. However, what concerns me is the last paragraph of this article on page A7 with regards the upcoming dual primary in Southampton County.

Voters will be allowed to vote in either the Democratic or the Republican primary but not both. From Ms. Chappell’s article, there are two Republican and two Democratic candidates who are running. I believe very few voters in the county know much, if anything, about these candidates. In fact I haven’t found much about them on the internet. Ms. Chappell closes her article writing that “The Tidewater News will report more information about the candidates after the primary election.”

I believe most of our primaries have poor voter turnout. With little information on the candidates we can expect even less interest. Unless someone is voting strictly along party lines, it’s a tossup as to which primary to choose. Then it’s another as to which candidate to choose.

This is an important election for us because, for the first time in over a decade, there is no incumbent. Yet without information on the candidates we’re begging people to stay home and wait for the “real candidates” to show up. As far as I know, none of the candidates have asked for our votes in Southampton County. We don’t have a large population and there are more votes elsewhere. But the cost of the election to the county will be the same whether we have a handful of voters or long lines.

I would urge The Tidewater News to publish some information about these candidates prior to the June 14 primary so potential voters can make an informed decision. From what little I’ve learned, there are differences in these candidates that might make a difference in the voting.

B.W. “Mike” Holloman
Southampton County