Oooops, I voted the wrong way... can I be granted a do-over? (to live in)

[normie]

A few weeks ago, Loudoun Supervisor Sally Kurtz (D-Catoctin) said that she mistakingly voted in favor of a proposal to widen Ashburn’s Belmont Ridge Road. Kurtz' vote was the deciding factor in approving the plan to expand Belmont Ridge Road from two to six lanes between Route 7 and Croson Lane.

The day after the vote, though, Kurtz said she accidentally voted for something she did not want. She realized this after a member of the Piedmont Environmental Council contacted her and discussed the situation with her.

As a result, Supervisor Stevens Miller (D-Dulles), who voted opposed widening the road, suggested the board hold a special meeting to "reconsider the vote". It didn't happen... but the reason given was that the other board members were not available.

So this leaves us with a question:

If the other members had been available, should they have reconsidered that vote? Once a vote is taken, should do-overs be allowed?

[perries]

I say double down - the board should vote on the issue of whether a re-vote should be allowed in this case.

[SteelCityRising]

I disagree with allowing "re-votes." A voter should always be well-researched and well-informed BEFORE trouncing on off to the polls, and if they vote blindly then the consequences of their lack of preparation should be theirs to bear. I'm sure many people in 2006 who voted for President Bush in 2004 would have gladly said "Can I have a do-over?"

[Caladium]

Politics is not mini golf, so no mulligans allowed!

It would be a terrible precedent to allow a re-vote. Plus, I expect my representatives to pay better attention and know the issues better before the vote is cast. Frankly, I hope she doesn't get re-elected. The one I dislike the most in this story is Stevens Miller, the fool who called for the re-vote. Sounds shady to me, so I really hope he doesn't get re-elected.

[tgbwc]

No. No do-over on a vote.

And in this case, it is the widening of a road. There is a ton of planning and discussion beforehand. It isn't like it just came up under new business with some surprise motion. Even then, a motion is made, a second, time for discussion...

[yamota]

Did you happen to live in Florida in November of 2000?

[Yankeesfan]

Every governmental body has procedures in place that need to be followed. For example in the Virginia General Assembly, the halfway point is known as Crossover Day. After that, each branch (House of Delegates and Senate) can only act (with some exceptions) on bills that have already been passed by the other branch. So any bill that hasn't been passed at least one branch is dead.

I don't know the rules for the Loudoun Board but if she felt that strongly about it, she should wait until the next meeting and then bring it up, if permitted, under the existing rules -- which would probably mean making a new motion to retract the approval, and following whatever procedures would then be necessary. This wasn't a "mistake," it was the stupidity of apparently not being fully informed before casting the vote. (Not saying it was stupid to vote that way, since I have no knowledge or opinion on the actual road issue.)