Why Low Voter Turnout in Barnegat (Is It the Chicken or the Egg?)

Reading comments to stories and blogs here on the Barnegat Patch prior to the Barnegat municipal elections, one wondered how much change there would be. Elections results were a tie. There was no change. One reading the comments posted here would think there would be a revolt against all incumbents. This did not occur. This and the next couple of blogs will look at this election in detail. This blog focuses on turnout.

Figure 1 shows the percent of Barnegat residents 18 years of age or older who are registered. About 9 of 10 people are registered to vote. This is not a perfect ratio as the census data is behind the registration data. This means almost everyone eligible to vote is registered. There are residents 18 years and older who are not able to register, so participation may never be 100 percent.

Figure 2 shows slightly more than 3 in 10 registered voters voted in November. This means 7 of 10 did not. 

Figure 3 shows slightly more than 1 in 4 residents 18 years of age and older voted in November. This means 3 of 4 did not. 

Many complained after the election about the lack of change. When less than 1 of 3 eligible voters vote, the electorate is telling a minority of citizens to make decisions for them. There is an old saying: He who pays the piper picks the music. The same is true in politics. He he takes the time to vote picks the policy. 

When elections are decided by this level of participation we, as a community, give power to those with the vested interests. They will always vote. They will make sure politicians know they voted and for who. Low turnout guarantee outsiders have no chance. Low turnouts enhance the power of the political organizations as they have a core constituency that vote no matter what. A politician walks into a room of 10 people. Three people in the room vote and seven do not. He will talk to all 10 but only hear the voices of the three.

Outsiders require large turnouts of non affiliated voters to diminish the power of party regulars. The 5 percent vote received by Howard Effron is proof of this. Regardless of your or my view of the candidates there must be more than 5 percent of the population disenchanted with the choices offered by the major parties.  

Lack of voter involvement is not the whole story. Why are people not voting? Could it be they feel there is no choice? The campaign rhetoric of the Republican and Democrat party were indistinguishable. Both candidates voted against the budget. Both were the “champions” of the over taxed. There was no way of distinguishing them except who they blamed for our problems.

The Republican party controls the township committee by a 4 to 1 majority. This allowed them to free Mr. Lisella to vote against the budget and still pass it by a 3 to 2 vote. Does anyone think if the Republicans had a 3 to 2 committee majority Mr. Lisella would vote against the budget?

Mr. Morano voted against the budget. This was a free vote for him. He knew the budget would not fail as there were 3 votes of 5 for it. Did Mr. Morano offer a budget alternative? How many policemen would be laid off to reach the budget level Mr. Morano could support? What streets may not be repaired or have limited garbage picked up. It is easy to throw darts at a ruling majority when you have no responsibility. Neither Mr. Lisella or Mr. Morano offered an alternative budget they could support. This means their votes were empty gestures in a vain attempt to pacify an unhappy electorate. The low turn out proves their attempts failed. 

This issue of voter involvement is a "what comes first, the chicken or the egg?" argument. Does higher voter turnout force a more responsive politician or will real choices bring out the public?  I am not sure of the answer. I am sure of this: Real change will not come from the the two major parties. Political power will always trump principle for them.

The answer will come from someone outside the two parties. A candidate or movement bringing imagination and structural change will bring higher participation.  Now who will it be?  When will they come forward and how will they win? If only I knew, but a man may hope.