The "year of election" is upon us and the money pouring into traditional and non-traditional media by all entities vying for your vote is just now starting to be felt. The best example so far is the Measure B the Newland Sierra Project which is very relative to all Escondidans. The local pundits are blasting their  rhetoric everywhere as every news outlet looks to fill every waking minute of your life with "breaking  news" beyond the typical car crash, bank robbery or lost dog lead we see in off-election years. Think you're over processed now just wait you ain't seen nothing like what we're going to experience all the way through Tuesday, November 3rd! BIA Advisory Service estimates $6.55 billion will be spent on local  political advertising in 2020, with over-the-air TV receiving the largest share of $3.08 billion - 47% of  total political spend in 2020. This represents a potential 16.5% of total local broadcast TV advertising  revenue for 2020. Digital media is forecast for 21% of political ads, cable TV 14% and radio nearly 5%.  Will any of it, work? Will any of it shape or change your vote? No one really knows. Polling is constant  and agencies specializing in political elections have studied and processed billions of bits of data to  create a roadmap for success. Social media continues its rise to dominance when it comes to reach but,  traditional media still wears us down and voter fatigue is a real thing. At some point, we all become  numb to it all and we tune out the chatter. Or, we just put our earpods back in and smile.

 

But it must be said voting is your right and obligation. An informed and engaged citizenry armed with the facts and their convictions can shape their community, city, county, state and federal government by voting.

 

The Chamber is a great place to start when it comes to being informed. We're evaluating, investigating and pouring through the information to help make sense of the measures and candidates. Much more to follow.