There is of course a difference between speaking for the City Council and speaking as a City Councillor. If you did the former without the council's consent, they have every reason to get mad at you.
Yes, as a former returning officer I was confused too, until I was informed that in the average US election, they don't just for for their senators, congressman, and president, but possibly for 20 other local positions, 3 ballot initiatives, and probably half their state government too - AT THE SAME TIME.
When you're electing one or two people, paper ballots counted by hand work fine. But with many positions, some sort of automated system is needed because (for some reason we tolerate) people demand the results quickly. For city elections, my city uses optical scanners and filled-in bullets for just this reason (as we elect 20 positions and usually have to approve major capital expenditures and loans).
Slashdot Mirror
There is of course a difference between speaking for the City Council and speaking as a City Councillor. If you did the former without the council's consent, they have every reason to get mad at you.
Yes, as a former returning officer I was confused too, until I was informed that in the average US election, they don't just for for their senators, congressman, and president, but possibly for 20 other local positions, 3 ballot initiatives, and probably half their state government too - AT THE SAME TIME. When you're electing one or two people, paper ballots counted by hand work fine. But with many positions, some sort of automated system is needed because (for some reason we tolerate) people demand the results quickly. For city elections, my city uses optical scanners and filled-in bullets for just this reason (as we elect 20 positions and usually have to approve major capital expenditures and loans).