Vote as if our very democracy is at stake

The elections are finally over and, once again, we have the tyranny of the minority deciding the results. With a turnout of approximately 33% of the registered voters we had the local option tax defeated and an incumbent school board member ousted by a candidate who ran on a platform built on specious misinformation.

For over 10 years now I’ve been telling everybody I can that elections are determined by turnout. Off-year and primary elections are where local issues are actually voted on. Off-year elections determine the direction localities move. Primaries determine which candidates we get to vote on in November.

So, here we are. The dedicated minority cast their ballots while the vast majority of registered voters (that’s two-thirds) sat on their butts. If you break down the numbers, 50-55% of the 33% that voted decided most of the races. That’s 17-18% of those registered voters decided that they didn’t want sidewalks in Sandpoint or a competent school board member.

I know I’m over-simplifying but in broad strokes that is what happens in most elections. Those that don’t vote enable the dedicated minority to run things the way they want to, usually to the detriment of the majority. It’s even worse when you consider that approximately 50% of those eligible residents aren’t even registered to vote.

The greatest freedom we have is the vote and if we don’t use that freedom we must live with the consequences. Become informed, register and vote! Our democracy is at stake.

GIL BEYER

Sandpoint