HomeMy WebLinkAbout026-84 DANVILLE
Town of Danville
542 San Ramon Valley Boulevard
Danville, CA 94526
(415) 820-6337
RESOLUTION NO. 26-84
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DANVILLE
Calling upon the Television and Radio Industry and Other
Members of the News Media to Voluntarily Refrain from
Projecting Presidential Election Results or Making Pre-
dictions in Presidential Elections until All the Polls
throughout California and the United States Have Closed
WHEREAS in 1980, on the west coast, electronic media made presidential
election projections at 3:30 post meridian;
WHEREAS the voter turnout in 1980 was the lowest Since 1948;
WHEREAS in 1980, 3 percent of registered voters in the Western United
States reported that they did not go to the polls because of early
election projections by television and radio;
WHEREAS in 1980, countless eyewitnesses reported individuals leaving
polling places following announcements by broadcasters of a projected
presidential winner;
WHEREAS rapidly developing technology and techniques make it probabl?
that projections will be made earlier in future elections;
WHEREAS a decline in voter participation is an unacceptable trend for
a healthy, vibrant political environment;
WHEREAS early election projections do not serve any significant societal
purpose and are unnecessary and potentially damaging to the political
process and voter participation;
WHEREAS the right of Americans to cast informed and educated votes is
the cornerstone of our democracy and freedom of the press is intended
to further that basic right;
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED t~at the City Council of the City of
Danville calls upon the television and radio industry and other members
of the news media to voluntarily refrain from projecting presidential
election results or making predictions in presidential elections until
all the polls through California and the United States have closed.
RESOLUTION NO. 26-84 -2-
PASSED, ADOPTED AND APPROVED this 19th day of March, 1984 by the
following vote:
AYES: Lane, May, Mc Neely, Offenhartz, Schlendorf
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None