Get Out and Vote...or Not

Tuesday, November 2, is election day.  Voters across the nation will go to the polls to decide if the incumbents in Washington should be replaced.  Some states will decide who will lead that state.  Other states will consider ballot initiatives, like California, where the state will decide if marijuana should be legalized. 

United States citizens cherish the right to vote.  A key principle in the founding of our Country was the right to vote.  The opening paragraph of the Declaration of Independence is a "thumbing-of-the-nose" at the elitism of the English system.  The Founding Fathers believed people were not born with a right to lead, only the populous decides if someone is worthy to lead the government.  (I'm reminded of the Monty Python line from Monty Python and the Holy Grail whenever I think about why this Country was founded:  A peasant says to King Arthur, "Well you can't expect to wield supreme executive power just 'cause some watery tart threw a sword at you!")

But are citizens required to vote?  Just because you have the right does not necessarily mean you have to exercise the right.  For example, when the police arrest a suspect, the suspect is advised of the right to remain silent.  The suspect can forgo the right and speak; the suspect does NOT have to exercise the right.  Additionally, all law abiding citizens have the right to keep arms under the Second Amendment.  How many actually do so?  Some may argue I'm comparing apples to oranges; however, the apple and the orange both spring from the same "thing" - a seed.  The principle underlying the right to vote and other rights is the same - the right not to exercise the right.

During the Gubernatorial race for California, Meg Whitman's voting record was highlighted.  Meg Whitman did not vote for 28 years.  Is this really material?  Is voting a required element to run for public office?  I say no, as a matter of fact, some votes should not even be made.

Whenever a voting opportunity arises, three types of votes are cast.  These votes are not about which party, or about yes or no, or right or wrong.  The three types of votes are about the character of the vote.  The three types are the informed vote, the non-vote, and the uninformed vote.  The first two are worthwhile votes, the latter is inherently worthless.

The person who researches the issues and researches the candidates casts the informed vote.  This is the most worthwhile of the three types of votes.  The informed voter understands the issues and casts the best vote possible.

The non-voter actually casts a vote.  The non-vote is a vote of neither yes or no for any issue or candidate.  The non-voter either doesn't know enough, doesn't care, or is willing to allow others to decide the issue.  The non-voter's voice is not heard.  This means, the non-voter cannot complain about the outcome of the vote.  Not exercising the right to vote means not exercising free speech about the vote.  (Thus Meg Whitman, while she may think she can govern better, she should not complain about the state of California - she aided in the current state by not voting.)  The non-vote is better than the last type of vote.

The uninformed voter is a disgrace to the system.  The uniformed voter doesn't know the issues or the candidates.  Most often, the uninformed voter casts a vote in-line with the political party to which the uninformed voter belongs.  This doesn't mean every person who casts a vote which matches the political party's recommendation is an uninformed vote.  Only those who rely on the political party to decide how to vote without researching is uninformed.

An uninformed vote is an abomination.  The uninformed vote flies in the face of logic and what is right and wrong.  The uninformed vote can influence the outcome of a political race or issue, especially when many uninformed votes are cast.  Is this what the Founding Fathers wanted for the Country?  I think not.

The Constitution guarantees a republic form of government.  Voting others into office to make decisions for the populous is the republic form of government.  When those in office do not make decisions the populous feels is correct, the populous votes that person out and a new person in.  What the republic form of government is not: voting for someone because someone else says that is who you should vote for.  Be your own person.  Vote for the best candidate - the best candidate YOU think is best based on YOUR RESEARCH.

Tuesday is voting day.  You have the right to vote, or not.  Make your vote count....

Mike

My Voice Was Heard Today

This morning, I did something I've never done before in my life. I voted at a polling station. While I've voted in most Presidential elections (I think I might have missed one; specifically, I don't remember voting in the 1988 election), due to my military service, every time I've voted, it's been an absentee ballot. So today was a new experience for me.

It was especially a new experience because I felt I had a stake in local issues. I was a Georgia resident for over 30 years; however, for the last 23 years, I have not lived in Georgia. Every ballot I voted via absentee included some issue for the local community. While my vote on those issues was counted, the outcome of the vote would not have an effect on me personally. I remember one of the issues was about raising the local sales tax one cent to fund some item. I do not remember my vote - including even if I voted on those issues; however, my vote and the outcome did not have an effect on me personally since I did not live nor shop in the local community. Today I voted on issues that affect the community I in which I currently live.

Today's election is a primary election. Included with each party's candidates running to represent their party in the November elections are several local elections and several local issues. Voter turnout is expected to be less than a November election because many people seem to not to vote during the primary elections. To me that is sad. There are several initiatives on the ballot which will affect everyone in the state, and because this is a primary election, some people are not going to vote because, hey, it's just a primary election.

These people who do not vote are allowing those of who do vote to affect their lives. Think about that. I voted today on several issues which will have an outcome on how the state I live in conducts business. The people who do not vote are allowing my vote to decide the issue without their thoughts or feelings or voice to be heard. I can understand someone not caring about who wins an election but when an issue can affect the pocketbook of the community, would not everyone who would be affected by the vote outcome want to vote in the issue?

Having a voice in issues that could affect you is a right which should be exercised at every opportunity. My vote in local issues did not really count before as my vote did not affect me. My vote counted today for me. Today my voice was heard.

Mike