In 2000, one of the closest presidential elections in history took place. President George Bush narrowly defeated Al Gore by winning the state of Florida, by 537 votes, or 0.009 percent of the votes cast. The preliminary election results eventually ended up at the Supreme Court of the United States; and were subsequently certified shortly thereafter.
Bush went on to serve two full presidential terms because of 537 votes; from roughly six million votes cast in Florida.
Close elections are nothing new in America. They are far more prevalent in state and local elections, where voter turnout is incredibly low. Unfortunately, low voter turnout means important local matters are being decided by a relatively small faction of citizens, making even one vote more statistically valuable.
In a nation of more than 300 million people, fewer than 60 percent of eligible voters regularly cast ballots in the U.S. Prior to 2020, the United States ranked 31st out of 50 developed democratic nations in voter turnout; and in each of the last three elections, fewer than two-thirds of those eligible to vote did so.
Only 18 percent of registered voters cast ballots in local elections, even when the mayor and other top offices are on the ballot. This dangerous trend has the potential to inflict serious damage to the democratic policy making process in our local cities and counties.
Years of voter apathy has brought America to a dangerous crossroads in her history. Even in the highest-turnout years, many Americans still don’t vote. Our electoral system is designed with checks and balances for a reason. Increasing voter turnout is imperative to the future of our nation and the preservation of a free people’s republic.
As nonvoters are increasingly disconnected from politics, their interests are at risk of not being represented as government focuses on a narrow set of interests. Cities like Seattle, Chicago and New York show exactly how detrimental lack of voter participation can be. Residents have effectively disenfranchised themselves; and allowed a vocal minority to become the largest voting bloc in their respective communities.
If every citizen voted, we’d have a greater chance at having policies that more accurately reflect the needs and desires of America’s taxpayers. A strong democracy relies on an informed and active citizenry for its health and vitality. One reason there is so much discourse today is due to a lack of informed representation, and an inability to hold elected leaders accountable for both actions and inactions.
It’s abundantly necessary that a populace broadly supports and respects its leaders. Yet fewer than four in 10 Americans say they’re satisfied with the way things are going in our country, according to a recent Pew Poll. Dissatisfaction was particularly high among young people: Only 18 percent said they were satisfied.
Exercising your right to vote is the bedrock of a successful democracy. If citizens fail to vote, elected leaders will simply ignore societal concerns. They will implement policy without consent of the people and could turn a thriving democracy into a fledging dictatorship within an election cycle.
One of America’s early colonial settlers, Reverend Thomas Hooker, said, “The foundation of authority is laid firstly in the free consent of the people.” That principle lies at the heart of the representative system by which the United Sates has governed itself for well over two- and one-half centuries; and will be what sustains her in perpetuity. ◆
Thank you & God bless you,
Vincent Cavaleri
