Montgomery County voters were piling into the Church of the Brethren at 6 a.m. with lines of cars for five blocks and cars blocking entrances to people’s driveways in order to cast their vote for this historical presidential election, according to Carol Lindstrom author of the community blog “Depot Dazed.”

When voters came upon the church they were met by both Barak Obama supporters and John McCain supporters handing them sample ballots of both parties with the check marks in the boxes marking either Democratic or Republican nominees.

Due to the State Board of Elections adopting a new policy of not allowing anyone to express an opinion for one candidate by wearing campaign materials such as T-shirts or buttons into the polling place, supporters of both parties were also handing out stickers but only after the voter had already voted and was on his or her way out.

Voters coming in and out of the church were not only met by Democratic and Republican supporters but by a petition pushing to move the Christiansburg town elections from May to November. Lindstrom, orchestrator of the effort, and Terry Ellen Carter, participant in the effort and Treasurer of the Montgomery County Democratic Committee used Election Day as a way to get their voices heard and their goal to get the town election moved met.

Reasons for changing the town election according to Lindstrom are that it would increase voter participation, and most importantly save the town an estimated $4,000 to $12,000. In the past, the voter turnout for town elections has only been about 8 to 10 percent, but if the town elections were to move from May to November then Lindstrom expects a 30 to 60 percent voter turnout on years when there is not a presidential election.

It would help save the town money by only having to pay for polling materials such as the polling machines only once a year rather than sometimes twice a year like during presidential election years, Lindstrom said.

What many people don’t realize is that the local government impacts us just as much, if not more than the presidential election does. The presidential election is very important, but if people want to help decide where their tax money goes and how many police cars should be in the town than they need to get involved with the local government, Carter said.

One way that Lindstrom expects an increase in voter participation by moving the town elections to November is that it is one less date for people to remember. People remember the presidential election in November but seem to forget the town elections in May. People who remember the election in May often have not been able to find where to vote because the polling places differ from the election in November from May. If the elections are all held at the same time at the same place then being able to vote would be much easier Lindstrom believes.

Lindstrom encourages citizens of Christiansburg to get involved not only with the presidential election but with local government elections as well. “We need more youth,” Lindstrom said. “In Christiansburg we have been doing things the same way for the last 30 to 50 years and it’s time for a change.” The Internet has made a phenomenal difference and Lindstrom is ready to have access to finally pay her water bill online.

“People need to be involved,” Lindstrom said. “Let your voices be heard. Silence is the death knell of democracy in verbal form and voting form. It doesn’t matter.”

Christina Moore is a media studies student at Radford University.