The risk of not voting

Once again, voter turnout in Tuesday's municipal elections in the Corridor's two largest cities was less than disappointing.

In Cedar Rapids, two well-qualified mayoral candidates conducted a lively campaign and provided distinctive choices. Four other city council seats were well contested.

The council's performance on flood-recovery matters was on the line. Yet just 27 percent of registered voters - fewer than 3 of every 10 - bothered to cast a ballot.

In Iowa City, where three council seats were up for grabs, the turnout was just plain dismal: 9 percent.

The big issues there - increased violence in parts of town and budget shortfalls - apparently weren't compelling. They also failed to attract young voters, even though two college students ran on the ballot. Nonetheless, how does a community with an average education level higher than most reconcile the lowest turnout percentage since at least 1975?

One can drag out all the familiar excuses for such apathy. Perhaps most residents think things are OK with their city government. Or, they don't think it makes much difference who gets elected because “they don't listen to me and my street won't get fixed anyway.” Or, they're just too busy to take a few minutes to stop by their poll site on the way to work or fill out an absentee ballot. Or they couldn't find time to study the issues and candidates. Or the news media didn't do its job well enough.

Or ... local government just doesn't matter much.

Whatever the reasons and excuses, Tuesday's level of disengagement is discouraging and even dangerous for our representative democracy. It's especially hard to accept in Cedar Rapids, where the post-flood challenges have been so immense and so many decisions made and yet to be made will affect our community for decades to come.

We understand that even local government is bigger and more complicated than just a few decades ago. More bureaucracy and regulations to deal with. Even when city employees provide great customer service, navigating and communicating with government can be challenging for anyone.

All the more reason to make sure your elected representatives gets your message, hears your concerns.

Power is vested in the council to act and make changes. And if you feel you won't be listened to, have you ever made a sincere effort to be heard?

And if you haven't, and if you don't vote, how do you expect city council members to be held accountable?

Being an engaged citizen often isn't easy. But if we're not willing to seek out our elected leaders, to challenge or question, to voice support, then we leave our civic duties on the table. Local government becomes less democratic, less and less responsive to those it's supposed to serve.

Are we willing to take that risk, election after election?