A group of volunteers responded to Christiansburg Town Council's inaction on considering an ordinance to move elections from May to November, and a subsequent challenge to citizens was made by the Mayor.
A petition was filed and obtaining 1,299 signatures (10% of registered voters on the rolls as of January 1, 2008), would allow the question being placed before town voters on the November 2009 ballot to decide.
Using this past Tuesday's election date as a likely place to access registered voters living in Christiansburg, volunteers were at several town polling locations. The goal of obtaining the necessary signatures was met -- and handily exceeded.
Seeing that the number of signatures obtained far surpassed the number of people who bothered to vote in the town's last several May elections is itself quite a statement. The real referendum, however, will be on the ballot next November. The actual number of valid town voters will be certified by the Montgomery County Voter Registrar.
Until then, volunteers will continue to work in support of this referendum and ensure voters are aware of it and educated about it. In the meantime council may want to be looking at what steps they need to plan for (Justice Department and General Assembly heads up, term ending and beginning dates as examples).
Kudos to all those who helped out, ensuring "government" isn't just a word, rather actions undertaken by ordinary citizens.