By Rick Kraft — Imagine: The voting polls opened, but no one showed up to vote.
The voting polls opened, but no one showed up to vote. Why should they? The average voter leads a busy life. There are more important things to do: groceries to buy, children to transport, phone calls to make and working late on that time-sensitive project.
Is it really important to participate in deciding who will lead this great country called “America?” Is it really important which candidate will be making social security, health care and inheritance tax decisions in Washington, D.C.? Is it really important to choose who will be determining education, economic development and state tax issues in Santa Fe? Is it really important who interprets New Mexico law as sitting appellate judges? Is it really important who will be making decisions about our local community issues? You bet it is!
But haven’t the polls already determined the winners? A poll has never determined any winner. Responsible citizens determine who wins. In the 1948 election, the Gallup poll selected Thomas E. Dewey over Harry S. Truman 49% to 44%. The Roper poll called it Dewey 52% to 37%. The Crossley poll predicted Dewey 50% to 45%. The polls were unanimous. There was no need to vote in November 1948. Or was there?
After hearing that California and Ohio had fallen into Dewey’s column, the Chicago Tribute believed Dewey to be the victor and printed the infamous early edition with the headline, “DEWEY DEFEATS TRUMAN!” It was not to be. Not only did both California and Ohio select Truman, so did the American public. When the final tally came in, Truman had defeated Dewey by over 2 million votes, 49 to 45 percent.
Let others decide. One vote doesn’t really make a difference. Or does it?
What is the power of one vote? In 1776, one vote gave America the English language instead of German. In 1845 one vote brought Texas into the Union. In 1868 one vote saved President Andrew Johnson from impeachment. In 1876, one electoral vote gave Rutherford Hayes the presidency of the United States, 185 to 184, over Samuel Tilden.
In this country of ours, the right to vote is the great equalizer. The vote of a street sweeper counts the same as the vote of a CEO of a Fortune 500 company.
The right to vote provides accountability. Each candidate on the ballot understands that they do not do their job in a vacuum. They understand that, if elected, they must take care of the needs of their constituents or else the same power of vote that got them elected will remove them from office.
As responsible citizens, we need to set an example for our young. We need to teach them to be responsible citizens. The future of our nation belongs to them. My wife and I always took our two children to vote with us as they grew up. It not only set an example for them for future years, but it also gave us the opportunity to visit with them about the importance of our right to vote. I’m proud to be able to tell my children that I have voted in every election since I turned eighteen in 1976.
One of the saddest lines that I ever hear after the fact is “I assumed.” I assumed she understood. I assumed that wasn’t going to happen. I assumed he would get it done. I assumed my candidate didn’t have a chance. I assumed my candidate had it in the bag. If I’d known, I would’ve made time to get out and vote. Recognizing that and making time on Nov. 3 is too late.
I’ve heard comments from local candidates who, when asked how things looked for them in their race, responded, “It all depends on who gets out and votes.” Although in reality, I find this response a disappointing one. Who is elected should be determined not by who chooses to exercise their vote, but by every citizen who has the right to vote.
I would encourage each employer to allow every employee sufficient time off to vote during business hours to make sure they have the opportunity to cast their votes.
My challenge to each one of you who reads this is to make voting a priority. Schedule time to vote. The candidates you support are counting on you.
Our community, our state and our country are counting on you. To each person you speak with leading up to election day, ask them “Have you voted yet?” One vote at a time, let’s get out and set a high water mark for voters in our community and our country.
Exercise your right to vote. Don’t take it for granted. The power of your single vote could be the difference between victory and defeat for a candidate you support, a bond issue, or a constitutional amendment.
Just an important thought…
Rick Kraft is a local attorney, a syndicated columnist for 26 years and the Executive Director of the Leadership Roswell Program for 34 years. To submit comments, contributions or ideas, e-mail rkraft@kraftlawfirm.org or write to P.O. Box 850, Roswell, NM, 88202-0850. The views expressed in this column are those of the author.
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