VOTER ENGAGEMENT IS IMPERATIVE FOR MEANINGFUL CHANGE
WHY SHOULD I BE AN ENGAGED VOTER?
As we go about our daily lives cherishing family and pursuing careers, it is not front of mind to think about elections and voting. Even the bombardment of tv ads and mailers does not distract us.
What we do know about politics usually stems from the national scene of taxes, foreign affairs, immigration, the deficit, etc. And as a result, on average the voter turnout for a presidential election is 66% nationally and usually over 75% in Kansas and Missouri.
No doubt national politics affects all of us, our families and our businesses everyday, but national issues move very slowly. The question becomes, are those issues really more important to you than having a street with no potholes, that street shoveled, a first responder when you need it or a park or library or school when you want one. I maintain that those things are extremely important as well. However, voter turnout for local elections only runs between 14% and 25%. That means that often “the extremes” decide . . . the minority decides. With only a 25% turnout, each voter effectively gets 4 votes.
“YOU ALWAYS GET THE GOVERNMENT YOU DID NOT VOTE FOR.” – Anonymous
That is abysmal and frightening, but it is the truth. Can you believe that a minority of the voters decide who our local elected officials will be? Very scary, and pathetic.
Good people will not run if good people won't support them.
There are many reasons for this. We are all busy people, and it is difficult to know who the candidates are and what they plan to do, if anything. And intelligent people don’t want to make a mistake in the voting booth, either. And too many people believe, rightly or wrongly, that their vote does not count.
The LGBT Chamber of Commerce begs to differ! Consider these historical facts:
• In 1776, one vote gave America the English language instead of German.
• In 1839, one vote elected the Governor of Massachusetts, Marcus Morton.
• In 1845, one vote brought Texas into the Union.
• In 1868, one vote saved President Andrew Johnson from impeachment.
• In 1876, one vote gave Rutherford Hayes the Presidency of the United State.
• In 1876, one vote changed France from a Monarchy to a Republic.
• In 1923, one vote gave Adolph Hitler leadership of the Nazi Party.
• In 1960 a one vote difference in each voting district of Illinois would have defeated John F. Kennedy for the Presidency.
• Al Gore lost the 2000 US Presidential Election to Geroge W. Bush by just 537 votes—that difference equals one single vote in each voting precinct in Johnson County.
• The single vote of Senator John McCain on July 28, 2017 defeated the attempted dismantling of parts of the Affordable Care Act (Obama Care), the passage of which would have left 15,000,000 people uninsured.
Good people will not run if good people won't support them.
And in 2020, the Presidential election was the closest in history and the article linked here by Pew Research will describe the even split in this country.
HOW TO BECOME AN ENGAGED VOTER GET REGISTERED
First, you have to be a registered voter in the county where you live. The easiest way is to go online to your county election office.
Kansas sos.ks.gov
Missouri sos.mo.gov
rockthevote.org
jcebmo.org/election-information/
on-the-ballot/
voteroutreach.sos.mo.gov/portal to verify your voter registration.
By going to these sites, you can:
• Find out if you are registered to vote.
• Register to vote.
• Get election information like dates and locations.
• Find out who has filed to be your candidates.
• See the list of your existing elected officials.
Second, and this is the harder part, you need to learn about your candidates: who they are, what they stand for and what they will do if elected. It is very important to be an informed voter. Unfortunately, you may have to go hunting for this part.
Candidate Websites
Each candidate should have a website where you will learn why they are running, if they are qualified, what they plan to do, etc. It is very unlikely that any candidate you support will agree with you on every issue. However, you are looking for candidates who will be accessible, who will listen, who will represent all voters (not just a small group) and who have integrity.
Candidate Surveys & Other Information
Many organizations have candidate surveys posted online as well. Most candidates are asked to fill out 15-20 surveys for an election. It is also telling if they don’t fill them out. Some examples of where you can find surveys include:
Kansas: The nine chambers in Johnson County have votejoco.com
Kansas State Chamber
Mainstream Coalition
Missouri: Missouri Chamber of Commerce - sos.mo.gov/elections/candidates
Candidate Forums
Many of these same organizations also host candidate forums. These can be attended in person or viewed online after they occur. Women’s Political Caucus, Johnson County Post, League of Women Voters and many others usually have forums for local candidates.
In-Person Meetings
Often candidates are willing to meet with you in person if you just ask. One thing we all forget is that elected officials work for us the voters, not the other way around. They also host town hall meetings, coffees and neighborhood picnics that are not fundraisers, but for you to come and meet them.
Local Media
Local issues are often covered in the media, some newspapers will do articles and features on issues, and local media will host debates.
PARTICIPATE
There is no doubt that the highest priority for change is to have a high number of registered voters. As distasteful as we all find politics, it is incumbent on us to find a way to participate in the process. Good people will not run if good people won’t support them.
If you are an employer, encourage your employees to get registered and give them time to go vote. You cannot tell them who to vote for, but you can encourage them to learn about the candidates and go vote. Again, provide the resources for them to make an informed decision.
Identify good candidates and support them. Campaigning today is much different than the days of kissing babies and parade candy. It is also much more expensive. Think about the cost of mail (still the most recommended way to reach voters) and social media. Fundraising is important to candidates.
However, there are many ways to support a good candidate without writing a check. Host an event, send an email of support to your contacts, put up a yard sign or have them in to meet your C-Suite team.
Write a check. No, it is not deductible, but your candidate will be able to run a good, solid campaign. And contrary to popular belief, a financial contribution rarely buys the candidate, but it may gain you quicker access later should you have an issue.
So, for 2024, become an informed and engaged voter at the national and the local level. We will have a better government if you do.
Thank you to our contributors:
Mary Birch, Owner, Birch Advisors, LLC
Missouri Chamber of Commerce
