Voting is your ticket to a better community

In 2005, almost 80 percent of the population of Iraq turned out to vote, according to the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance’s Web site. In the 2004 parliamentary elections in Afghanistan, 83.7 percent of the population voted.

In the United Kingdom, just over 61 percent of the population voted in the parliamentary elections. In the Russian Federation, almost 70 percent voted in the 2008 presidential election.

In the United States, roughly 62 percent of registered voters turned out in the 2008 presidential election. However, recent voter turnout has been as low as 45.3 percent in the 2002 election.

That’s the good news.

In 2007, voter turnout in Sandpoint in the mayoral election was a dismal 41 percent and in May, only 5 percent of the city’s registered voters turned out to vote on a proposed water revenue bond.

Today, residents throughout Bonner County have a chance to vote in mayoral and council elections. Voters in Sandpoint will also decide the fate of a proposed water revenue bond and residents in Hope will vote on whether or not to increase the property tax rate by three percent on a permanent override levy.

Bottom line: By voting, you help determine your city’s future.

Caroline Lobsinger is the managing editor of the Daily Bee and she plans to vote.