Vote Early and Vote Often

'Tis election season in Guam. While the stakes are unusually high with the Democrats on the verge of being ousted by the mid-term elections on the mainland, here on the island this one is the "Big Enchilada." The Governor's seat is up for grabs as well as all the seats of the island's legislators. Because the Government of Guam appears to exist to keep as many Chamorro people employed as possible, the largest voting block on the Island is the GovGuam employees. The issues revolve around who can perpetuate that by any means.

The political atmosphere on Guam is very similar to the mainland with frequent dips into something that sometimes resembles a banana republic. Despite those lapses democracy remains intact and vibrant. Campaigning has been constant and unabated since we moved here five months ago and has risen to a fevered pitch. I can only speculate as to what the island looks like without all of the campaign signage and look forward to it's removal in the weeks to come.  

Republicans and Democrats with nary an Independent in sight.  Despite some mild mudslinging and political chicanery it is comparatively more civilized than it's parent system on the mainland. But watching it unfold does give you a feeling for how it might have been 40-50 years ago. Candidates are much more accessible to their constituents. A common sight to see is a "Wave." The candidate will stand by the side of the road or at big intersection and wave at all the cars making eye contact with each. Usually with anywhere from 2-200 sign-wielding, t-shirted supporters. Of course a lot of honking goes on with it too. Pick-up trucks with large signs protruding from the back or pulling a trailer with even larger signs, daily roam the island playing loud music and blaring supportive rhetoric for the candidate from huge speakers mounted high. Oh yeah, flashing lights, they always have flashing lights. On the weekends these vehicles lead scores of others in "Motorcades" around the island, stopping for an impromptu static display of their support for their candidate clogging traffic for miles in all directions.

All leading up to today, election day.

 The streets were eerily absent of those displays until you got close to a polling place. All of the last minute emphasis was concentrated to the places the voters would be most subjected to them. Driving past a school or municipal building today was akin to running a gauntlet. On each side of the entrance was a tent with it's respective gubernatorial candidate's signs and a free buffet(okay, now I am wishing I had registered to vote.) Keep in mind, no electioneering within 100 feet of a polling place is the law. Candidates and their supporters lining both sides of the street, waving hands, waving signs, shouting campaign slogans, and of course honking, perpetual honking. Pleasantly enough when people were able to shout directly into the open car window they shouted "Thank You!" every time. Methinks they know something that people on the mainland forgot a long time ago.