MY TURN: Voters, you've got a big job to do

Voting season is in full swing again, and there is a tremendous amount of work to be done to ensure the participation of eligible Idahoans of all walks of life. This time it’s for a high-profile race that hopefully most have a vested interest in — the Idaho Presidential primary on Tuesday, March 10.

The time is now to decide which Presidential candidate on what party ballot best represents you. We all must have a voice in what vision of the future best serves our families, communities and country.

I certainly am speaking to the choir here, as newspaper readers vote in higher numbers than the general population. If you are a senior citizen, a homeowner, married, are more financially secure, have a higher level of education, volunteer or go to church frequently, you are statistically more likely to vote. In November 2018, nearly 50 percent of all 57,011 votes cast in Kootenai County were from those 60 years and older. Those who are 30 to 39 years old — my generation — made up only 11.2 percent of the local electorate.

Time and resources are limited, and volunteers can only do so much. My greatest hope is that those who honorably perform their civic duty can help with the necessary personal outreach and sharing of nonpartisan voting information in their personal networks. No single organization or passionate individual can drive voter turnout alone. To have true representation, we need both robust civic participation and effective leaders with strong ethics to vote for. This cannot be achieved without the continuous maintenance of electoral participation by citizens and institutions. Businesses, nonprofits, government agencies, schools, churches, neighborhoods and families all have a role to play in preserving our democracy.

The Idaho Constitution, Republican and Democratic parties are all holding primary elections on March 10. The Constitution and Republican parties both have six candidates on their ballots. The Democratic party has 17 candidates on the ballot, including some who have suspended their campaigns for President. For those who aren’t familiar with the candidate options, sample ballots are available on the Kootenai County Elections Office website.

Understanding who can participate in what primary is key. The largest voting bloc of Idahoans is unaffiliated with any party. It’s important that the diverse population of unaffiliated and third-party voters knows their options. Both the Constitution and Democratic parties welcome unaffiliated voters to participate in their primaries. Only registered Republicans can participate in the Republican primary. Thankfully in this Presidential primary, voters can still change their party affiliation all the way up to election day to vote for the candidate they think is most fit to lead the United States of America.

The trouble with Presidential primaries is that voter turnout is abysmally low. According to an analysis by the Pew Research Center, since 1980, the overall U.S. voter turnout in Presidential primaries has ranged from a high of 30.4 percent (2008) to a low of 14.5 percent (2012). In 2016, voter turnout was higher than normal — 28.5 percent. In the 2016 general election, 100 million people, nearly a third of our entire population, did not vote for any Presidential candidate. A third or less of U.S. registered voters are deciding who is nominated for President. And that portion of the population doesn’t count the millions of eligible Americans not registered to vote. When only the most partisan and politically engaged citizens participate, the potential result is extremism or catering to a base, leaving multitudes of disengaged people completely unrepresented.

If someone is unaware of their current party affiliation or polling location, please help them by going to idahovotes.gov. From there, select “Am I registered to vote?” and enter their name and county.

In Idaho, we have several voting options that can accommodate even the most hectic of schedules.

- Vote by Mail (absentee voting). The last day to request an absentee ballot is Feb. 28. I personally choose to vote this way. I receive my ballot in the mail several weeks before election day. I have time to research who and what is on my ballot so I can make the most educated decision possible. I have no worries about missing the opportunity to vote because of work, weather, transportation problems and potential illness. No postage is necessary. Families who vote at home can discuss important decisions together. To consistently receive your ballot in the mail, you must request it annually starting in January. The absentee ballot request form is available at the Kootenai County Elections Office or can be downloaded from its website.

- Early voting. Voters can cast their votes early by visiting the Kootenai County Elections Office at 1808 N. Third St. in Coeur d’Alene from Feb. 24 to March 6, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Idaho’s same-day voter registration applies during early voting.

- On Tuesday, March 10. Polls are open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Do you know someone not registered to vote? Advise them to register at their polling location by bringing a valid form of ID (Idaho driver’s license or state identification card) and proof or residence (utility bill, auto registration, car insurance, bank or credit card statement, rental/mortgage agreement or report card). If a voter is not able to show acceptable ID, they have the option to sign a Personal Identification Affidavit.

Please consider joining me in the effort to raise awareness to vote for the Presidential primary. Share this information with audiences who truly need it: the economically vulnerable, the elderly, students, busy parents and working people to name a few. National corporations and nonprofits are collaborating and investing resources for nonpartisan voter engagement. Imagine the impact if this was done locally.

This article unfortunately doesn’t get to the heart of what truly motivates or prevents people from voting. Connecting people to an issue that tangibly affects their everyday life can be a powerful motivator to vote. Selling politicians is not my forte. Experience has led me to be skeptical. I personally find advocating for causes and community far more fulfilling, but sometimes, a good representative can overcome the challenges of partisan gridlock by shepherding meaningful, bipartisan legislation into fruition.

It is true that many who don’t vote don’t care. Those reasons are complex, and I am far more compassionate as to why than I was four years ago. But there are also many who will vote with a little personal nudging from someone they care about.

One of the most memorable experiences I had while knocking on doors during the 2018 midterm election was a conversation I had with a caring father and his 18-year-old son. This father and son planned to go to their polling place together. This father was teaching his son about voting and what was on the ballot. The son was excited to vote for the first time. If only every 18-year-old could have a trusted mentor and guiding hand in becoming an active and informed citizen.

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Jessica Mahuron is a resident of Coeur d’Alene and community organizer of Civic Engagement Alliance. Go to www.civicengagecda.com to connect with their efforts.