OPINION: Be a voter to your core

At the birth of our nation, 56 men pledged their lives, fortunes, and sacred honor to the ideal of self-determination. They wanted a say in their own governance. That spirit — the belief that the people closest to the impacts of governing should have a voice in their future — is the foundation of our democracy.

But history reminds us that the right to vote has never been free or easy. 

In November 1917, after picketing the White House for the right to vote, 33 suffragists were arrested and sent to Occoquan Workhouse. Guards brutally beat them in what became known as the “Night of Terror.” Lucy Burns was handcuffed to her cell bars all night with her arms above her head. Dora Lewis was thrown so violently into a cell that she was knocked unconscious. Alice Cosu suffered a heart attack after witnessing the abuse. These women endured such cruelty because they demanded the right to use their voice.

Decades earlier, in 1873, Black men in Colfax, La., attempted to protect the results of a local election from white supremacists. A white mob stormed the courthouse, murdering around 150 men in what became one of the bloodiest massacres of Reconstruction. Their deaths were not random acts of violence — they were deliberate attempts to silence Black political power and suppress the vote.

Across centuries, people have risked and even lost their lives for the right to cast a ballot. That is the weight of the privilege we hold today.

And yet, here in Kootenai County, participation often falls far short of the sacrifices made for us. In a presidential election year — when clickbait and big money stoked a fire of fury — voter turnout in Kootenai County was 86%. By contrast, the fate of our libraries only drew 21% of registered voters to the polls in May. The consequence of voters checking out during that May election is that now many library patrons will need to pay an annual fee for their library card. 

This November, our ballots will decide the leadership of city councils, school boards, fire districts and more. These local offices shape our everyday lives — how our children are educated, how our neighborhoods are protected, and how our communities grow.

Voter turnout for these races hovers around 31%, and yet these races decide issues that have a far more immediate impact on your daily life. They also give us an opportunity to learn about what local governments can and cannot do — a crucial civics education. 

The capacity for civic engagement exists — we have simply failed to exercise it consistently.

Voting is not just a duty — it is a sacred privilege. Not long ago, women were dismissed as too emotional and minorities as too uneducated to vote. To believe those views are gone is naïve; prejudice still lingers, even in the highest levels of government.

That is why every election matters. This November is a nonpartisan election. In all the years I’ve been involved, the Kootenai Democrats have never issued a suggested ballot for a nonpartisan cycle. We believe these contests should be based on skill, not party loyalty. What matters is competence, integrity and a willingness to serve the public good.

Our mission between now and November is simple: to help people become voters to their core. That means making sure neighbors are registered. It means precinct captains knocking on doors to help residents find their polling places, and make a plan to vote. It means creating spaces for thoughtful, respectful conversations about the issues that affect us all. It means encouraging every eligible voter to stand up, be counted, and claim their role in shaping the future.

No one should have an excuse not to vote. And no one should underestimate the power of their ballot.

This November, we invite you to honor those who suffered, struggled, and sacrificed for this right. Be more than a bystander. Be a voter to your core: registered, engaged, empowered and excited to exercise the most fundamental right of a democracy. People fought and died for this. It is time we treated it with the power it deserves.

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Sarah Martin is chairman of the Kootenai County Democrats.