Vote or Hold Your Peace

Never mind the political naysayers who claim people are turned off by politics and have no particular interest in either Republican George W. Bush or Democrat Al Gore. California Secretary of State Bill Jones says the state’s voter turnout next Tuesday may be the biggest in 20 years and that county election officials have been flooded with a record number of requests for absentee ballots.

Jones acknowledged that many people stir themselves to vote only if there is “a real horse race.” They have a horse race this year. Even though most experts still believe Gore will carry California, it’s close enough to create suspense. Also, a number of close House races could affect the balance in Congress. Turnout is crucial in this election.

To those who believe that their votes don’t count, Jones says this is the greatest opportunity many will ever have to truly make a difference, possibly the closest presidential race nationally in 40 years. Jones, a Republican, hewed to a careful nonpartisan line in noting the number of critical U.S. House elections in the state and spirited campaigns for and against state ballot measures.

If Jones’ prediction is close, and his record is a good one, a new high of nearly 12 million Californians--76% of the registered voters--will cast ballots Tuesday. Voter registration also is at a record high, 15.7 million. Democrats outnumber Republicans 45% to 35%, about the same edge there was four years ago. The big change is in the percentage of Californians who have registered as independents, now 14% of the total, up from 11% four years ago.

The absentee vote also has been growing in recent years, since enactment of a law that allows any registered voter to apply for a mail-in ballot. Before that, Californians legally could vote absentee only if they were confined to their home by illness or disability or had to be away from their precincts on election day. Absentee voting may approach 30% of the total vote on Tuesday.

Jones used his announcement to challenge the 24% of registered voters who, by his projection, may not vote. The election may not turn out the way they would want it to. But at least if they vote they will earn the right to complain about what the winners do in office.