The Privilege of Citizenship
If you don't vote, you don't count

In recent days, American marked the 228th year of its birth as a separate and free nation. Our country continues its experiment in democratic government established by our founders.

The legacy of liberty and the right to choose our own government is a cherished gift on this earth. Yet, many Americans display such indifference to their voting rights that it trivializes the very notion of representative government.

Only 14 percent of Kentucky’s registered voters turned out the polls in the recent May primary election. This turnout approximates the same percent of turnout in the 2000 primary election, when both presidential and congressional races appeared on the ballot.

That both major party presidential candidates were already decided undoubtedly contributed to the abysmally low voter participation. Nevertheless, the low turnout is symptomatic of the value that Kentuckians place on the importance of free elections. Very often, the results of a Kentucky primary election can determine the final outcome of the general election, since political races in certain districts are unchallenged by the opposite party.

It is an article of faith that the health and the survival of representative government depends on committed citizen involvement. Frequently, the harshest critics of government failure are those who don’t bother to vote.

For those who believe that their single vote does not count, I offer two examples to refute that proposition outright:

1. In the 1983 Democratic primary for governor, Martha Layne Collins won by less than one vote per precinct statewide.
2. In the recent May 2004 primary election, the Democratic candidate for the 29th State Senate District won by less than one percent of the votes cast.

Historically, Kentucky’s general election turnout is higher in presidential elections and is projected to be so again in November. Even so, it is appallingly low when compared to the total voting age population.

In the 2000 presidential general election, only a fraction more than 51 percent of Kentucky’s total voting age population actually cast a vote. “Motor Voter” legislation, which provided for automatic voter registration when citizens applied for drivers’ licenses or welfare benefits, has not resulted in any significant difference in voter turnout. While it certainly increased voter registration, what does that matter if those registered chose not to vote? “Motor Voter” was a Pyrrhic victory at best.

This may be a provocative premise, but maybe it is not a bad thing that indifferent citizens fail to vote. An uninformed vote is not a good thing in a democracy. Should citizens with a non-voting record have their voting privileges suspended, pending completion of a course in U.S. Civics? Could this approach promote a better-informed electorate?

In Australia, citizens are required by law to vote. While that ensures citizen participation in elections, that idea is inconsistent with the American idea of individual freedom. Currently, there are initiatives under way in New York and California to allow voting by immigrants who are not citizens. This approach is not an appropriate way for America to improve the quality of our elections. This pandering for votes by both parties is a sellout for votes and a betrayal of our constitutional representative government in America. A vigorous national dialogue should take place before embracing non-citizens as voters. Citizenship carries responsibilities as well as privilege. The interests and loyalties of non-citizens may well lie with other countries, not America. Non-citizens should not be determining the outcomes of our elections nor the future policies of government in America. Such a course reduces the value of American citizenship and threatens democratic government.

Simply put, while low voter participation raises important and troubling issues, those who don’t vote just don’t count. Returning to an emphasis on civics education in our schools could help inform. It can’t hurt. The nation’s emphasis should not simply be improved voter turnout. More correctly, the major emphasis should be placed on building turnout of an interested an informed voting population.

Pat Freibert is a former Kentucky state representative from Lexington
editorial@lanereport.com

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