Much work needs to be done to educate voters on issues

By Jean McMenimen

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In the middle of a great community celebration of our nation's birthday, it's appropriate to think about what we're doing with the rights, freedoms and obligations we have as citizens of the United States. Now is the time to think about the 6.54 percent voter turnout in Linn County for the June 5 primary election.

That percentage is disappointing, but what's tragic is that there isn't any community uproar. In that turnout, there were precincts with a voting percentage as low as 1 percent and 2 percent. Think, people. You're in a group of 100 people and one or two make the choice for the whole group.

The standard explanation for low turnout in a primary is that it's “just” a primary election and there were not any hotly contested races. The reality is that a few have taken the opportunity to decide whom we will vote for in November. The people who vote in low-turnout elections have more clout because of the size of the turnout.

Then the questions are: In November, if the general election turnout is better, at 30 percent, 40 percent or 50 percent, is that acceptable? Is it OK for the next primary election to be as abysmal as the last primary election? What should and/or can we do about voter turnout overall?

Voting is compulsory in many countries around the world and the number of countries on that list may surprise you. Would compulsory voting work for the United States?

The League of Women Voters of the United States has positions relating to voting that include:

l Representative Government: Promote an open governmental system that is representative, accountable and responsive.

l Voting Rights, Citizen's Right to Vote: Protect the right of all citizens to vote; encourage all citizens to vote.

l Citizen's Right to Know/Citizen Participation: Protect the citizen's right to know and facilitate citizen participation in government decision-making.

Original research sponsored by the LWV Educational Fund found that “voters and non-voters differ in several key aspects: Non-voters are less likely to grasp the impact of elections on issues that matter to them, are more likely to believe they lack information on which to base their voting decisions, are more likely to perceive the voting process as difficult and cumbersome, and are less likely to be contacted by organizations encouraging them to vote.

It's also notable that six case studies - identified and published by the LWV Educational Fund - of successful get-out the-vote projects across the country have key similarities (visit www.lwv.org/content/case-studies). The projects targeted distinct voter segments or communities, and while the League led or began the efforts, the projects were partnerships with community organizations.

In 2006, the national League of Women Voters created VOTE411.org, a one-stop-shop for election information. It provides non-partisan information to the public with both general and state-specific information on the election process and candidates.

The League of Women Voters of Linn County will sponsor candidate forums this coming fall, and we will be asking broadcast entities to join us in urging voter turnout through PSAs and other programming.

The League of Women Voters advocates education, communication and persuasion through community cooperation to develop knowledgeable and motivated voters. We recognize there is much to be done, individually and with community cooperation.

The outcome of Election 2012 and all elections, affect everyone's job, heath care, energy cost and security.

Jean McMenimen, a professor at Kirkwood Community College, is president of the League of Women Voters of

Linn County. Comments:

lwvlinncounty@gmail.com