With only 36 percent of voter turnout this election, it was the lowest turnout since World War II. As much as it baffles me, there is part of me that understands this voter apathy. Elections today seem more about slandering the opponent and focusing on what has not been done, rather than what can be. Many people do not vote because they either do not like the politics in their area at all, or do not believe that their vote will make a difference.
With only 36 percent of voter turnout this election, it was the lowest turnout since World War II. As much as it baffles me, there is part of me that understands this voter apathy. Elections today seem more about slandering the opponent and focusing on what has not been done, rather than what can be. Many people do not vote because they either do not like the politics in their area at all, or do not believe that their vote will make a difference.
East County elections were pretty cut and dry, with a majority of the incumbents remaining fairly silent on issues. It is much easier for them to do this as it is proven that they have nearly a 90 percent chance of being reelected, regardless of their actions, or inactions in office. Yet people complain about a broken state and national systems as everyone votes the same people in term after term.
But at the local level, in many cases, this can be different. When a community gets tired of the way their community is represented at a local level, they seem to get more involved. La Mesa had some surprises this election and in our election coverage, nearly everyone running except one candidate responded to our list of five questions. But in El Cajon and Santee, the incumbents did not have the time to answer five simple questions within a two-week period. This is disappointing.
From a journalistic view, it bothers me that they do not participate in local coverage as we are trained to give all sides to a story. But it is impossible to do that when they will not tell their side.
Personally, when candidates refuse to talk about an upcoming election, they are more than likely to lose my vote just for that reason. They surely have no problem pasting their names all over the city streets, yet they do not have the guts to answer five very open ended questions that gave them the chance to talk about anything to their constituents. They much rather sit back and let their own special interest groups like the East County Democratic Club, Lincoln Club and other big money spenders do their campaigning for them. This is not something that should be forgotten in local city races. They are as apathetic as voters and more than likely to push their own agendas at City Hall than serve their communities with respect and vigilance for the better good. So it is probably best for them that they stayed silent because if we knew what their personal goals and intentions really were, they might just have gotten booted out.
But they did not and apathy prevailed. And it is apathy alone that makes me always vote for term limits. At least with term limits, it gives those that vote a fighting chance for change.
As you might have guessed, I am fairly disgusted with the lack of participation from some of East County’s city officials, especially since I spoke to each of them personally and even gave an extension due to some busy schedules. But I am more disappointed that people did not get out and vote. Because one vote can really make a difference.
Down in South Bay, the city of Imperial Beach is making headlines since the race there is so close. They came out the gate with a one-vote difference, and each day as the count continues, it is one of closest elections I have witnessed.
I have no cure for voter fatigue. I am just as tired as everyone else of the same crap we have to listen to every election season. But I know that willingly giving up my right to vote is not the answer to the problems that we face in our communities today. It is quite the opposite. And if we begin working for the better good in our communities, perhaps it can move upward and we can start a new era that will “trickle” up to the state and national level.
