By Mike Matejka
With November 8 five days away, something that always fascinates me is how many citizens actually vote on election day. We in McLean County have a high turn-out record, above the national average. Yet when we look back historically, it is an above average election when at least 60 percent of us bother to vote.
Over the past half-century, 1960 was the high-water mark, with 63 percent of eligible Americans voting. The 2008 Obama – McCain contest came close, with 62 percent. Four years ago, 57 percent of us participated in the Presidential contest.
Of course, the cynics amongst us might refute, “give me some one to vote for.” Some individuals might not care to vote because they don’t see a difference, find political rhetoric fatiguing and overwhelming, or simply don’t see a connection to their own life.
When I look at our McLean County demographics, there is a distinct trend from west to east. People on the east side of town, which tends to have the higher income precincts, vote more than people on the west side, in lower income precincts. This seems to hold true nationally – higher income people have a greater turn out margin than lower income. In the 2012 Obama-Romney contest, 80% of those making more than $150,000 a year voted, while only 48% of the poorest Americans, those making less than $10,000, participated. According to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, the U.S. has the second lowest voter turn-out of all member nations. Amongst these developed nations, only South Korea has a lower voter turn-out than this country.
Everyone is impacted by government decisions and programs, but low-income people are the most immediately effected, whether by job development, housing, child care or other subsidized program. When polled, non-voters are often very supportive of government assistance programs and more liberal policies, yet their voice is not heard at election time.
We pride ourselves on our American Democracy, talk about how blood has been shed to protect our rights. Hopefully all of us who are eligible, whether low or high income, no matter our religion, skin color or sexual orientation, will find our way to a polling place in five days. Our Illinois law makes it incredibly easy for us to register and vote, even on election day. Hopefully we’ll take advantage of the unique opportunity a democracy gives us.
Mike Matejka is the Governmental Affairs director for the Great Plains Laborers District Council, covering 11,000 union Laborers in northern Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska and South Dakota. He lives in Normal. He served on the Bloomington City Council for 18 years, is a past president of the McLean County Historical Society and Vice-President of the Illinois Labor History Society.
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