RE: Public support for elections

[Joan Johnson <joan@altair.com>]

Frances,

Voter turn out may (is) down, to be sure. Special interest groups (meaning any group like PACs, lobbyists, etc) apparently have moved in to fill the void.

I've observed lower voter turnout for years and do not understand it. I make it a point to vote and have ever since I was old enough to qualify, even the school elections. Some non-voters tell me they don't have time to attend to the election issues, find the information they hear confusing, can't separate the real information from the mis-information, have grown disgusted because the laws passed seem directed more to those with money and they don't have money.

I find it hard to hear the promises candidates make about issues that are important to me (education for one) and observe how the actions don't happen or don't address the issues. Democracy is a slow process and I sometimes find I lose patience with it. I can understand why some check out.

Joan