Politics & Government
Every Vote Matters
Election Day is Tuesday, November 4, 2014. Make sure you cast your ballot in this pivotal election cycle.
The American Bar Association theme for 2014 is “Every Vote Matters”. While the intent is to celebrate 50 years of the Voting Rights Act and the Civil Rights Act, democracy suffers a far greater challenge in 2014 than universal suffrage. That challenge is voter apathy.
The importance of every vote for Georgians and Cherokee County is greater this year that has been in a long time. In state wide elections, the polling data show that the race for Governor and the United States Senate are too close to call. On a national scale this elections could decide the difference between a Democrat or Republican controlled Senate.
Closer to home, we have a hotly contested race for County Commission Chair as well a a race for Canton City Council. Make no mistake, each of these races are a contest of ideals, principles leadership that will effect our way of life. Despite the fact that each of these races are to be decided by majority rule, statistically a minority will decide who wins each of these elections.
Find out what's happening in Canton-Sixesfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
According to the Georgia Secretary of State’s office, only seventy-six percent (76%) of Cherokee County voters cast a ballot in the 2012 General Election, the presidential election year. The statistics in 2010, the last gubernatorial election, are far worse. Of one hundred and nineteen thousand seven hundred and sixty eight (119,768) voters, only sixty six thousand two hundred and fifty four (66,254) cast ballots for a total of fifty-five percent(55%). These statistics are even more grim if you take into account the fact that there are over one hundred and fifty five thousand (155,000) persons living in Cherokee County that are eligible to vote. That means only forty-two percent of the eligible voters decided the elections.
These statistics are not isolated to Cherokee County. In 2010 only thirty-four percent (34%) of registered voters turned out statewide and the experts predict that only thirty six percent (36%) will turn out this year. Meanwhile, special interest groups are rallying their supporters and targeting their demographics in hopes to sway the election.
Find out what's happening in Canton-Sixesfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
The only way we can insure that the outcome of the election reflects the conscious, ethics, value and morals of this community is for every eligible voters casts their ballot. Every vote matters.
