Why the low voter turnout July 29?

By JOSH NEWTON

TAHLEQUAH DAILY PRESS August 07, 2008 09:56 am

— Fewer than 20 percent of Cherokee County’s registered voters went to the polls July 29 for the primary election. That’s a low turnout, by anyone’s standards.
Over the past week, the Daily Press conducted an online survey of readers, asking why many didn’t go to the polls. More than 30 percent of those who responded said they simply couldn’t vote: Either they aren’t registered, or they are registered somewhere else and haven’t changed their registration. Many NSU students, for instance, might fall into the latter category.
About 9 percent of those surveyed told the Press they didn’t like any of the candidates; 9 percent said they had forgotten about the election. More than 7 percent said they were too busy to vote, and more than 5 percent said none of the primary races interested them. The majority selected “other” as a reason for not voting.
Cherokee County Election Board Secretary Connie Parnell visited with locals during the run-up to the election.
“When you only have [about] 5,000 to vote, that’s pretty low out of [more than] 25,000 registered voters,” said Parnell.
Not voting seems to boil down to one common problem, according to Parnell. Some folks just don’t understand how voting plays a role in life.
“A lot of people didn’t know what we had to vote on,” said Parnell. “One guy I talked to said, ‘I can’t vote in this; I live in the city!’”
Understanding the process of voting is important, especially knowing what voters can or cannot vote on. Independents or non-registered voters were the only ones unable to participate in the primary.
Newspapers and radio stations frequently highlighted the local election scene, and state elections were often the focus of TV blurbs. Yet somehow, voters still say they knew little about what was on their ballots.
“They are not just affected by a sheriff’s race, or a commissioner’s race,” said Parnell. “People don’t realize how their everyday life is affected by those up for election or re-election – how your representatives, your congressmen, your senators affect you.”
When people tell Parnell they aren’t involved in politics, or don’t want to be, she points to a paper that explains how different elections affect everyday things. For instance, states the paper: “As you get out of bed, the mattress you have been sleeping on has contents regulated by the Federal Bureau of Standards, a bureau controlled by Congress, whom you elect.”
Electricity rates are approved by the Public Service Commission, which is either elected by voters, or appointed by the state’s governor, who is elected. “As you eat your breakfast, most breakfast foods are approved by the Food and Drug Administration, whose director is appointed by the president, for whom you vote.”
Gasoline taxes are set by state and federal elected officials. School teachers, buildings and equipment are controlled by the elected boards of education. Safety standards at workplaces are set by Occupational Safety and Health Administration, a division of the Department of Labor, whose director is appointed by the president – and votes elect the president. “If you are laid off, unemployment compensation benefits are set by the state legislators, whom you elect. If you are hurt on the job, Worker’s Compensation benefits are set by the legislators... .”
The roads people travel on are controlled by the Highway Commission, appointed by the governor, who is elected.
“An evening of TV? Regulations of TV channels are made by the Federal Trade Commission, whose director is appointed by the president... .”
Taxes on homes are set by city, county and state elected officials. “The airs you breathe, the water you drink, the land around you all are controlled by the Environmental Protection Administration, the director of which is appointed by the president, whom you elect.”
The director of the Federal Aviation Administration is appointed by the president, and the FAA sets regulations for planes’ upkeep and travel routes. Judges are elected, or in federal court, the judge is appointed by the president. And those who plan to retire should consider that Medicare and Social Security benefits are set by the members of Congress, who are elected by voters.
“And you didn’t think you were involved in politics!” said Parnell.
Eighteen-year-old Drew Anderson admits he didn’t vote because he isn’t registered in Cherokee County.
“I moved to Cherokee County for about a year,” said Anderson. “I’m leaving soon, and so I will register when I get home. I didn’t keep tabs on the local election, again, because I knew I wouldn’t be living here.”
Anderson said when he registers, he’ll do so as a Republican, so even if he had registered in Cherokee County, he wouldn’t have been allowed to vote in the local election for sheriff; all the candidates were Democrats. Anderson could have, however, voted in the statewide primary for either Rob Johnson or Dana Murphy in the race for Corporation Commission; or for the GOP U.S. Senate race featuring Sen. Jim Inhofe, Evelyn Rogers, Ted Ryals and Dennis Lopez.
Others, who didn’t want to speak on the record, have told the Press they didn’t vote for a variety of other reasons. Some admitted they “didn’t care,” presumably about the county sheriff’s race, and others said they didn’t know enough about candidates to make a decision. Still others said the negativity surrounding some of the campaign for sheriff turned them off.

Get involved
The Cherokee County Election Board has some materials to help teachers explain the importance of voting. Parnell said she recently provided information, including coloring books, to a kindergarten teacher wanting to start educating on the importance of voting at the grassroots level. Call (918) 456-2261, or stop by the office at 914 S. College Ave.
The next election will be the general election, Tuesday, Nov. 4, where voters will not only cast ballots on state races, but also the race for the White House.