County growing, but so is apathy

Voters, we're going the wrong way. In the past decade there have been five Kootenai County primary elections. The trend isn't just disturbing; it's demoralizing. Our apathy is getting the better of us, which means our democracy is getting the worst.

Voters, we're going the wrong way.

In the past decade there have been five Kootenai County primary elections. The trend isn't just disturbing; it's demoralizing. Our apathy is getting the better of us, which means our democracy is getting the worst.

This election Tuesday is especially important because two of the three Kootenai County commissioners will be chosen; they face no opponent in the fall. Further, several state legislative races will also be wrapped up for lack of an opponent in November. In short, this primary is a general election for a number of critically important seats.

We'd like to be encouraged about the turnout on Tuesday but history dampens the mood. Here are the percentages of registered voters who participated in the last five Kootenai County primary elections:

2000: 31.72 percent

2002: 28.92 percent

2004: 24.14 percent

2006: 24.57 percent

2008: 21.37 percent

There's obviously a big disconnect between citizens and their decision to exercise their most sacred right. In a county of about 135,000 residents, only about 15,000 are voting in primaries. Over the past decade our county has grown. As the numbers above demonstrate, it has also grown less active during off-year elections.

More than 70,000 people are registered to vote in Kootenai County. In the November 2008 general election, a whopping 87 percent of voters participated. When motivated, the people of Kootenai County will get out and vote. If half of them do so for this primary election, we will find ourselves with a significantly more representative government.

Knowing this is no place for a Sunday sermon we'll ask you simply and directly: Please vote.

It's your right. More than that, it's your responsibility.