Rarely are residents of any community reluctant to express their opinion on local issues.
Except, of course, on those days set aside for municipal elections.
Historically, fewer than a third of registered voters turn out to determine who will represent them in city government, even though the vote is the most powerful expression of an opinion a resident has.
Today, city residents in the Golden Triangle will again have an opportunity to participate in their government through the ballot. Let’s not squander this opportunity.
Municipal elections are the purest form of our democratic process, allowing citizens to directly determine the outcome. These are races determined solely by popular vote: The candidate with the most votes advances, so every vote really does count.
That’s proven to be true in all of the Golden Triangle’s cities. In each, there have been elections determined by a handful of votes in recent years.
Given that, there is no good reason that registered voters should decline to vote. The vote is not only a right — and for many, a vote their ancestors had to struggle the attain — but an obligation. Voting is as much a part of a citizen’s civic duty as paying taxes or abiding by city ordinances.
The polls are open today from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m., polling places are never far from home, no matter where you live in your city, and the voting process generally requires no more than a few minutes.
There is, then, no good reason not to exercise your right and duty to vote.
Public participation drives public policy.
When you chose not to participate, you are abdicating your role in city government.
On most days, citizens demand that their voices be heard.
Let’s make sure that today is one of those days.
Vote.
The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.
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