GARY SHUMWAY for Summit County Council

The Park Record, the primary Summit County, Utah newspaper, has a poll on its home page asking "how would you would vote in the Summit County Council race" or some such verbiage for each Council seat contest. Of course 'you' could be anyone, anywhere, and 'you' can vote more than once (from different computers and/or IP addresses).

I object to these types of polls on newspaper web sites, particularly those which do not include a caveat emptor notice that the poll is totally fictitious, that it is not scientific in any way, and that the poll is not to be taken seriously. I say this because a polling and/or Internet neophyte might look at the results of the polls and come to the conclusion that such and such a candidate is leading in popularity. This could sway their vote or be talked up in the County as some sort of accurate poll. This is absolutely bogus.

Obviously the Park Record poll is not in any shape or form official, is certainly unscientific (this is why Internet poll results must be discounted), and more a measure of how many individuals the candidate has befriended, which have Internet access, and are willing to vote for them, at least on-line (not necessarily any where else.)

The Park Record should put a disclaimer above these polls to the effect that the poll results may or may not have any basis in reality as to how actual Summit County voters would vote! Is the Park Record trying to pass this poll off as representative because they don't have the money or want to take the time to do a scientific poll, i.e., a valid and accurate poll?

Additionally, you know who these types of polls favor without even thinking about it. It will be the candidates that were informed that the poll existed. They will be the candidates that have the most friends (whether they actually would vote November 4th or not). And of course these polls favor the dominant party in the newspaper's area of circulation, which on the evening of 10/23 is, no surprise, the Democrat Party across the board except for the Weinstein/Ure race, and it was very close.

By the way, I also note that in each race the Democrat candidate for each chair is listed first. Yeah, OK, 'D'emocrat comes before 'R'epublican but any guess where 'C'onstitution Party should come and where it actually does? That's right, first and last, respectively. See for yourself in the Seat 'D' race. Seems like whoever set-up this poll should learn about collation sequencing, err, the alphabet.

What chance do you think a third-party candidate would have to come out on top in these type of polls? None. None that is unless the polls are taken for what they are, totally invalid, fictitious and just a game.

So, if you have the desire to participate in the game, please go to http://www.parkrecord.com/, look down the left side about three quarters of the way down, and note the three candidates in the "Seat 'D'" race. I, of course, would encourage your voting for the guy who's campaign web site you are currently reading, regardless of who or where you are. Note that you need not even be registered to actually vote, live in the U.S., or even be breathing. Well, OK, maybe breathing but that's about it. All right, all right, Internet access too.

Come on Park Record. Put up a disclaimer above these fictitious polls!!

That said, I obviously encourage you to vote legally this November 4th (or via absentee or early). In case you have any questions regarding voting on the 4th, I have a 'General FAQ' section on the right side of this web site entitled 'Voter Resources' which takes you to the State of Utah web site for answers (assuming you are a Utah voter).

One last thing, please do not vote straight party. Not all Republicans are alike. Not all Democrats are alike. Candidates are different in all the parties. Not all candidates of any one party deserve your vote (trust). Please vote the person, not just the party.

Thank you!