Schools can help reverse voter apathy trends

The young woman working in a Coeur d’Alene business was listening to a conversation among customers on Nov. 4. She wore a puzzled expression.

“There was an election yesterday?” she asked sheepishly.

Probably in her early 20s and, sigh, clearly not a Coeur d’Alene Press reader, her eyes widened while one of the customers explained local elections to her. The young lady didn’t comment further, but judging by her expressions, a journalist observing the interchange concluded that she was not at all familiar with the role or importance of city councils.

In the aftermath of those elections, combatants are waving the swords of analysis that always look threatening but rarely draw blood. “It didn’t go the way I wanted because turnout was pathetic.” “Voters were motivated by such and such issue.” “Voters were motivated by mudslinging.” And so on.

For the record, turnout in local elections is rarely anything to crow about. It was 18.58 percent countywide this year. Here’s what happened in the previous five Coeur d’Alene city elections:

2013: Turnout 24.02 percent countywide; Coeur d’Alene featured a hot mayoral race and three contested council seats in Coeur d’Alene, attracting more than 8,000 voters.

2011: Turnout 19.08 percent countywide; three contested Cd’A city council seats; more than 6,000 voters.

2009: Turnout 22.76 percent countywide; mayor and three contested seats; more than 6,000 voters.

2007: Turnout 21.56 percent countywide; three contested seats; fewer than 5,000 voters.

2005: Turnout 21.42 percent for mayor, three contested seats and an ordinance; fewer than 6,000 voters.

Low participation in local elections is regrettable. If there’s a tiny consolation prize, it’s the idea that the people who bother to vote in such elections actually do their homework and cast ballots based on their understanding of the individuals and issues, rather than party affiliation. Still, our communities could probably be better served with higher participation. How do we do that?

One of the reasons presidential elections triple or quadruple the participation of local elections is because from a young age, Americans zero in on them. Look into the public education system and you’ll find that most civics instruction is focused on the federal and state levels. That makes sense and has value, but we believe expansion of civic education to include city councils, county commissions, school boards and other taxing entities would pay tremendous dividends in our communities. Those blank stares on the otherwise intelligent faces of our young adults would be replaced by knowing smiles; smiles of citizens doing their duty, casting informed ballots that lead to more representative government.