In his Gettysburg Address, Abraham Lincoln called democracy “government of the people, by the people and for the people.” We Americans believe deeply that we are not here to serve our government, but that our government is here to serve us. As Americans we have the greatest right that any free people can have: the right to vote, which gives us the right to choose for ourselves who will serve us in the exercise of political authority.
This year, 2011, is what some call an “off-year” election. It’s an unfortunate term and it’s true that the president or our U.S. senators are not up for re-election. And you won’t be able to vote for members of the Georgia Assembly.
But 2011 is the year when scores of local officials will be elected. They will make the decisions that affect you and your family most directly. And you will be asked to vote your opinion on an important referendum issue — Sunday alcohol sales.
Historically, voter turnout in nonpresidential election years has been very low. People seem uninterested when there are “just local candidates” on the ballot. But the reality is that these elections are just as important as federal elections because they have the most direct impact on our personal lives and our communities.
Think about all of the services your local government officials are responsible for providing. They make determinations about your property tax rate. They decide how and where your tax dollars are spent, such as local school funding that is so important to the future of our children. They also are responsible for maintenance of your roads, local emergency services, police and fire protection, your parks and recreation areas, trash collection, water quality and recycling. These are decisions that affect you and your family’s everyday lives.
This is why it is so important, particularly in today’s economic times, that voters speak out strongly with their votes to place the officials of their choice in office to manage their communities. Learn what candidates in your community will best represent your position on the issues that mean the most to you and your family. Then cast your vote for them.
Voting is your privilege and your inalienable right as an American citizen. While the act of voting does not guarantee that your candidate or preferences will win, the choice of not voting is a waste of your right to have your vote counted and recorded.
Exercise your right to vote this year on Tuesday. Your vote does make a difference.
Elizabeth Poythress is president of the League of Women Voters of Georgia.
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