What sometimes causes “big turnouts” of voters in our elections?
Maybe the biggest voter motivation is dissatisfaction, even anger, over high taxes, or complaints about “the way things are going.” Sometimes voters are stirred to “throw the scoundrels out.”
But does voter complacency reflect a mood that “things are generally going OK”?
Whatever the reasons, local citizens this week were not much interested in voting. Only slightly more than 8 percent of the qualified Hamilton County voters “bothered” to go to the polls last Tuesday.
Those who voted kept some familiar officials in office, rejected others and took on some new ones. But “ho-hum” seemed to be the dominant attitude.
Most local citizens seemed to think that we don’t have “bad” local government, or prospects for much better. So citizen participation in casting ballots was small.
We insist on “participatory democracy” that “lets the people be heard,” even if we don’t participate or have much to say.
We hope all local officials elected this week by few voters will do a good job and keep most of us “happy.”