democracy inaction

I get it.  The ballot contained only one measure.  I understand that people are busy.  There's a world series and a reality television show and club soccer games and Happy Hour.  People are tired. Companies are squeezing the productivity out of the workforce and voting isn't exactly an escape.

Still, it was depressing to go to my polling place and see only one other car.  Skeptics might point out that it's a local issue; a simple budget override.  Except that's exactly where democracy matters.  The Electoral College and jerrymandered districts help ensure that my vote on Federal elections is a mere formality.  However, this issue might go down to a few hundred votes.

Moreover, it's an issue that connects to our lives. The overwhelming majority of our neighborhood sends their children to public schools.  Not a week goes by without a kid peddling coupons or candy bars or raffle tickets to support drastically underfunded extracurricular activities. So, I realize that our community cares.  I'm baffled, however, that parents will pack a field on a Friday night but fail to stop by a church and fill out a ballot.

photo credit - cspowers photo stream on flickr creative commons