Issue 30.17
Every four years, we elect a President. Every two years we elect the total House of Representatives to the US Congress. Senators are elected every six years, but the group of 100 Senators is divided roughly into thirds so that around 33 or them are elected every two years on a rotating basis. All of these elections come up in even numbered years such as 2012, 2014, 2016 and 2018. This is an odd-numbered year (2017) and as such, usually has no elections for those national offices. The state generally follows those rules and timetables as well in the races for Governor, State Senate and House.
In Utah this year, we have an election that is out of the ordinary. Jason Chaffetz resigned his position in the US House of Representatives so we are having a special election this year to replace him. There will actually be two elections for members of some parties as more than one person is running from those parties and the candidates must be reduced to one for each party. In my own town, the mayor’s office is usually decided in even numbered years, but this year, our mayor resigned in order to go on an LDS mission so we are also having a special election. The Primary election occurs in about two weeks on August 15th and the general election will be November 7th.
Many people do not realize that there is an election almost every year in almost every town, city, county and state. The so called “off year” elections often determine the membership of some of the offices such as city council, county officers and other elected positions, especially when needed to fill vacancies. Other ballot issues are often in play. Such things as bonds (loans) for local improvements and changes to local, county and state constitutions, by-laws or policies need voter approval to be implemented.
Off year elections are usually much less discussed and examined and voter turnout is often extremely low. For this reason, those wanting to push through confusing or somewhat unpopular ideas, choose off-year elections to present them. They know that, if they can get their special interest group to turn out at the polls in decent numbers, they may be able to get approval to move forward on things that the larger numbers of people voting in an even numbered election year would stop.
In a Deseret News article just a few years back, the author said this – “Utahns have a chance Tuesday to cast their ballots for the elected officials whose decisions most directly impact their live. Most, however, won’t bother. Based on voter turnouts from past years, elections officials estimate less than 20 percent of registered voters will go to the polls to help pick a new mayor or decide who represents them on their city or town councils.”
I hope that every registered voter will look carefully at this year’s election offerings in ideas and candidates. I also hope that everyone understands that the more localized the decision, the more effect it has directly on our every-day lives. The decisions of your town council, Mayor and county government may impact your lives more than what the state and federal governments do. For example, your property taxes are set at the local levels as are bonding issues that put your city or county in debt to provide you services or improvements to local roads, parks, etc. Policies on zoning, business support and taxation or licensing, water, power, sewage, trash collection and many other issues are determined close to home by people you personally know. If you don’t know who is running for city council and the other offices – and know what they believe in or are pushing for, you may get someone who is working directly in opposition to what you want for your home and environment. I am encouraging you to get informed on these things and then VOTE.
Lynn West is a thinker, a teacher and a patriot. You can reach him through email at forgingthefuture2021@gmail.com or through this newspaper. Liberty is a state of being which must be continually created. These articles can help all of us discover the ways we can contribute to that outcome.