Why Don't People Vote?

Post #6 

In less than a month, Rockville and Gaithersburg will hold municipal elections.  With nearly 60,000 people living in each of these well-run, successful, and diverse municipalities, there is much at stake.  Our economic challenges require thoughtful leaders who can make tough decisions.  It is up to us to make informed choices as to who will act in our collective best interests.  Despite this, very few of us make the time to vote.

In Gaithersburg, 26,973 people are registered voters.  Of those, just 3,225 took advantage of their franchise in 2007.  That's less than a 12% turnout.  Rockville residents did slightly better, but the numbers are still embarrassingly low.  Of the 29,401 people eligible to vote, just 4,902 expressed their views at the ballot box (just under 17% of those registered.)*

As a candidate for State Senate, I have access to voter lists.  I am amazed that some of the loudest critics of government proposals are also those who don't take the time to follow through and express their candidate preferences.  How can someone who has never participated in a local primary or City election believe that she will be taken as seriously by the elected officials she seeks to persuade?  

In California, former Ebay CEO Meg Whitman is seeking the Republican nomination for Governor.  Overshadowing her proposals for addressing the state's dire fiscal situation is her appalling history of not voting.  How can she credibly aspire to lead her party or her state if she did not take the time to cast her ballot for a 28-year period of her life?  Shouldn't we be able to expect each other (whether community activist, corporate leader, nonprofit staffer, or concerned citizen) to exercise the most important job we have as citizens of the United States? 

One of my favorite campaign buttons has a simple message: "Vote or You Have Nobody to Blame but Yourself."  I wear it virtually every year as Election Day approaches.  And, for those voters who do not take advantage of their franchise, I hope they know who to blame when government actions don't reflect their wishes 

So, be sure to research and VOTE on Tuesday, November 3^rd of this year if you live in Rockville or Gaithersburg... or any jurisdiction with an election this year!

I would love to hear from you, dear Blog reader!  Have you ever missed an election?  Do you feel that your vote can make a difference?  Send an email to Blog@CherylKagan.org or click on the "Comments" link below to express your views.  Please be sure to indicate which post (#6) you're addressing.

Thanks for reading.  I will post again soon.

* These numbers are based on Maryland VoteBuilder data as of September 2009.