Raise your vote today to signify freedom
As you contemplate what you’ll be doing today, voting should be one of your top priorities. Here in Morgan Hill, your vote will affect the outcome of various important ballot issues, including the educational outlook of our schools, who will lead our county’s legal justice system, our sales tax rate, construction and renovation for libraries, compulsory preschool for all 4-year-old children, more money for county parks and who our next assemblyman, governor and senator will be.
We are moved to share what’s happened in the war-torn country of Iraq, where people have literally fought with their lives for the right to vote. Millions of Iraqis have faced violence and oppression to cast a ballot.
Time Magazine’s inspiring photographs of Iraqi citizens proudly showing their purple right index fingers last January indicating they had voted in Iraq’s first free election in nearly half a century should be admired and used as an example of their bravery amid the chaos of their country. They braved bombs, sniper attacks and threats to
elect members of their first National Assembly.
Around the country and world, thousands of Americans showed their solidarity by coloring their right index fingers purple.
It’s hypocritical for us to praise the Democratic process finally happening in the Middle Eastern nation and yet take that very privilege for granted today by not going to the polls.
Many South American countries require all their citizens to vote. When they don’t they’re penalized with a fine and even jail time. They are literally forced to cast a ballot. It’s so easy to vote in this country that there are no excuses for not doing it.
The American Democratic process gives citizens the best situation possible to exercise the right, and yet the electorate responds with mediocrity and indifference.
As Americans we are highly regarded for our compassion toward neighboring countries in times of suffering. We reach out to them with money, donations and prayers, but we can’t seem to do something so basic for ourselves when we desperately need it. We fail to take just a few minutes of our day to go to the polls and cast that ballot.
In Santa Clara County, election officials are predicting that between 40 and 45 percent of registered voters will cast ballots, either through absentee voting or at the polling place. That’s shameful. Political observers note that the sad phenomenon is typical for a primary election to select candidates for the governor’s office and other state posts. Voters should still go out and vote. It’s one of the most important rights we have. While turnout is better in presidential elections, we must do better as a country to get everyone excited about the electoral process.
Today we urge you to vote. Go to the polls and cast your ballot and participate in the Democratic process. If you have failed to send your absentee ballot you can still do that today by dropping it off at any polling place in the county.
Increase voter turnout by just taking a few minutes of your day to decide the issues on the ballot by simply touching a screen and walking away free and safe and proud to be an American. If you want to, you may even stain your index finger purple. Go out and proudly wear your “I voted” sticker.
