Vote

It's Friday

and while the weather forecast for the weekend is a little funky

I usually post up something about how I can't wait to get into the water.

Maybe a picture


Today I thought I would take a slightly different tack.

Next Tuesday is the "mid-term" election day

They call it mid term because it means we aren't in the process of electing a President.

Voter turn out tends to be lower for these elections

But all elections are important and I strongly encourage you to educate yourself and cast your ballot!

YearVoting-age
population
Voter
registration
Voter turnoutTurnout of voting-age
population (percent)
2008*231,229,580NA132,618,580*56.8%
2006220,600,000135,889,60080,588,00037.1%
2004221,256,931174,800,000122,294,97855.3
2002215,473,000150,990,59879,830,11937.0
2000205,815,000156,421,311105,586,27451.3
1998200,929,000141,850,55873,117,02236.4
1996196,511,000146,211,96096,456,34549.1
1994193,650,000130,292,82275,105,86038.8
1992189,529,000133,821,178104,405,15555.1
1990185,812,000121,105,63067,859,18936.5
1988182,778,000126,379,62891,594,69350.1
1986178,566,000118,399,98464,991,12836.4
1984174,466,000124,150,61492,652,68053.1
1982169,938,000110,671,22567,615,57639.8
1980164,597,000113,043,73486,515,22152.6
1978158,373,000103,291,26558,917,93837.2
1976152,309,190105,037,98681,555,78953.6
1974146,336,00096,199,020155,943,83438.2
1972140,776,00097,328,54177,718,55455.2
1970124,498,00082,496,747258,014,33846.6
1968120,328,18681,658,18073,211,87560.8
1966116,132,00076,288,283356,188,04648.4
1964114,090,00073,715,81870,644,59261.9
1962112,423,00065,393,751453,141,22747.3
1960109,159,00064,833,096568,838,20463.1
*Source 2008 election results: http://elections.gmu.edu/Turnout_2008G.html.
Read more: National Voter Turnout in Federal Elections: 1960–2008 — Infoplease.com http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0781453.html#ixzz13kk59JRs

It looks like it wasn't just Meg who didn't bother to vote.

If you look at the numbers for 2008, 57 percent of the people who could have voted actually did.

I know people don't like the whole percentages deal so let me explain it this way.

If there were 100 people who could vote, the election was decided by the 29 people who voted for the winner. The other 28 voted for the loser and 43 people just didn't bother.

Your government only represents the majority if a majority participates in the process.

So take some time read up on your local elections and vote!


or

Comments

Quiver said…
Voted. To anyone who has trouble voting consistantly, try signing up for mail in ballot. You get time to neglect, put off, but with a constant reminder for a week or more sitting there on the table. Eventually, even I get around to filling the thing out and sending it off. Last year I didn't get mine in the mail and went to the polls and just dropped it in the box, no waiting in line. Vote, or keep your complaints to yourself.
Growling Gecko said…
No choice here in Australia as it is compulsory for everybody over 18. Shame it isn't the same for you guys over there in the States.
Beetlejuice said…
Funny,John Stewart calling the president "dude".
chiledub said…
Our country is broke. Bring on the clowns.

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