In the past few weeks I have chosen to support my candidates for City Council by walking the city and talking to potential voters about the candidates.
Through this process I have met interesting people and had many interesting conversations. The question that often comes up is one I did not anticipate:
“Why do so few people vote?”
Statistics from the last election in Culver City show that slightly more than 5,000 people, out of 26,000 eligible voters, actually voted. On a nationwide basis, our turnout is about normal.
I imagine we all have heard the reasons offered from the non-voters:
“I’m just too busy.”
“My one vote doesn’t count for very much. Why bother?”
“The issues are not important enough to me.”
“I don’t know any of the candidates.”
Perhaps you have used one of them yourself. Actually, I believe the reason is simpler. We humans seldom do anything where we don’t anticipate a reward for our investment in time and energy.
It Takes Time and Patience
Being an informed voter is not easy. It requires a substantial investment of time to learn what the issues are, how they might impact me or my business to finally determine what outcome best meets my needs. Then you can start learning about the candidates and the issues they believe are important.
Our candidates here in Culver City have gone to great lengths to make their positions clear. They have attended countless public forums. They have been interviewed by the local press, both in print and online. They are walking through the city seeking to meet voters and answer their questions.
Yet for all this effort I would wager less than 50 percent of eligible voters know the candidates and issues driving them.
What Is the Connection?
To return to the original question, “Why do so few people vote?” I believe that most people don’t see the connection between making the effort to be an informed voter and the positive outcome of having their selected candidate take office.
In other words, the outcome is not worth the effort.
Frankly, I once thought the same way.
Until I finally realized how important my single vote is. That one vote counts on three levels. First it is a vote for, or against, an issue or candidate. Many races are won by surprisingly few votes. Current Councilman Jeff Cooper won his seat by just 32 votes. That’s just half of one percent. Your vote counts.
Secondly, the very act of voting encourages other people to make the effort and either mail a completed ballot or visit their polling place.
Personally I prefer to make the journey to a polling place. There is something very moving, to me, about seeing people quietly waiting and calmly casting their vote. That simple act is so rare in our world, and we take it for granted.
Your vote counts.
Thirdly, casting your vote exercises one of the most important privileges we have in this country, electing our own governing officials and expressing our views on other items through punching “yes” or “no” on a ballot. Through this seemingly simple act, you have a far greater impact that most people ever imagine.
Our country was founded on having the freedom to express our beliefs. The election system is the formal foundation for that freedom. Our country’s history is rich with individuals who have paid the ultimate price to preserve that freedom for us to use today.
On Tuesday, Culver City will hold its next general election. We have four City Council seats open and a measure to increase hotel occupancy tax.
It’s not too late for you to learn about the candidates and issues. I strongly encourage you to make the effort and exercise your privilege.
I look forward to seeing you at the polling sites Tuesday. I’ll be there casting my single vote.
Mr. Voncannon may be contacted at dvoncannon@pacbell.net
