It’s beginning to look a lot like…campaign season! The sights and sounds of campaign commercials and Robocalls, going to the mailbox in anticipation of cards from candidates and political parties, and the vivid colors of campaign signs that decorate our city; who could miss what season we are in.
Of course, I am making light of what surrounds our most treasured freedom, the right to vote. Voting is a simple act that has a significant impact. When we cast our vote, we help decide who will lead our nation, make our laws, how much or how little we will be taxed, how businesses are regulated, and who will protect our Constitutional rights. Voting is a privilege and a freedom that millions of others around the world can only dream about.
Unfortunately, many Americans choose not to vote. The U.S. Census Bureau reports that nearly 30% of the voting population is not registered. And, even worse, less than half of registered voters actually cast a vote in a given election.
The most common excuse heard for not voting is “my one vote won’t make a difference.” There are many examples throughout history where one vote did matter, consider these:
- In the 1800 Presidential Election, a tie between Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr threw the election of the President into the House of Representatives where Jefferson was elected our third President by a one vote margin.
- 1941 the Selective Service Act (the draft) was saved by a one vote margin, just weeks before Pearl Harbor was attacked.
- In a 1959 city election, mayors of both Rose Creek and Odin, Minnesota were elected to their respective offices by one vote.
- 1962 Governors of Maine, Rhode Island, and North Dakota were all elected by a margin of one vote per precinct.
- In 2000 our nation had one of the most closely contested Presidential elections in American history and some people are still arguing over who won.
There are so many instances where the course of a nation, ours included, have been altered by one vote, all because an individual ballot was either cast or not cast.
This election season we have the privilege to vote for National Leaders, State Assembly, Statewide Propositions, County Judge, and locally we have races for San Marcos City Council, Palomar College Board, San Marcos Unified Board, Vallecitos Water District Board, and some will vote on the Palomar Hospital Board.
Please take time to vote on Tuesday November 6th; the vote you cast now will shape the future of our Nation, State, County, and City!
