I learned today that out of thousands of registered voters in my part of the community/city — actually close to 70,000 — the expectation for voter turn out is close to 12,000. I just have to say, even though I see reports of low voter turn out across the country in national, state, and local elections, I am still stunned by that. And thus the question: Do you vote? When there are elections in your community, city, state, and in the nation, do you show up to vote?
-Do you think it’s important?
-A right?
-A duty?
-An obligation?
-A pain?
-An annoyance?
I’m just going to be in a struggle, as I frequently am when voter turn out is low in ANY level of electing people or passing laws, measures, questions that impact day to day life, about who does vote and who does not.
Actually I think I already know the reasons people actually DO show up and vote so not puzzling about that as much. But I’m indeed puzzled by the reasons any of us decide NOT to vote. So I’m open to answers to that question. I’m guessing at a few things:
-Too busy
-Too stressed
-Just plain old forgot
-Ill or unable to find a way to physically get there…or a lack of financial resources to get to polls
-No matter what I do it does not make a difference
-Really don’t care
And after that I’m stumped. I have had an individual tell me he/she had not voted because of not understanding the issue being decided. All that remark does for me is leave me with yet another question. What keeps an individual from reading, from asking, from doing whatever might be necessary to get the information necessary to then make a decision — take a position on the issue — and then show up to vote yes or no?
So am I being difficult? Stubborn? Do I have my head in the sand? I ask because I hear endless complaints about the way government is run; about what does and does not get accomplished. And I also hear just as many remarks or reports on the things that SHOULD BE DONE. Comments and complaints abound: in newspapers, in TV news coverage, and in every single form of social media. Consequently, regardless of the issue impacting lives, I simply expect people to show up with an opinion, preferably an educated one, but an opinion.
And I do know that a couple of the reasons I’ve listed for not voting are totally legitimate: physical or financial limitations; or the feeling “what I think doesn’t count” or I can’t really make a difference. And it’s likely that “not caring” comes from some significant level of depression and a sense of being disconnected from society and life in general. These are serious issues.
Regardless, I’d like for all of us to challenge our thinking. Can we help in any way to “get out the vote” and help people step up and participate? At the most simple level, do you know anyone who would vote if he/she had a way to get to the polls? And if so, could you volunteer to take that person? Can you engage people in conversation about important political issues and explore the level of interest you find, then encourage people to get involved? The more each of us is engaged, interacting, exploring all the differences we face, the more likely we will see change. What do you know how to do that could make a real difference for the people around you? For you?
My words today somehow strike me as more of a “rant” than a blog….but I’m interested in dialogue…even you telling me I don’t know what I’m talking about. I’m OPEN to hearing that opinion. So here’s my last point: At a basic, foundational level, voting is a form of leadership. So if we want to lead, we should vote!