Every Vote Counts, Be Heard

Tomorrow is election day 2011, and voters in Snellville will choose a new mayor and decide whether or not grocery and convenience stores within the city will be allowed to sell beer and wine on Sundays.

These two decisions will have a significant effect on the city’s future, yet they will be made by a relatively small percentage of the population; some people don’t know about the election, others don’t care. It’s ironic that local elections have the biggest direct impact on voters, yet turnout is typically lower than for state or federal elections.

Voter apathy takes many forms, but the most troubling one is a conscious decision not to participate, as exemplified by the citizen who told me, “I’m not the voting kind.” Consider that- “not the voting kind.” Gallons of blood have been shed, and countless lives lost to guarantee citizens the right to have their voices heard, yet some people prefer to give up that right and remain silent. I don’t know which is worse, citizens who choose not to vote or citizens who can’t be bothered.

Some voters feel reluctant to cast a ballot because they lack sufficient information to make an informed decision. That’s a legitimate concern, but there’s no reason for anyone to be uninformed. The Internet is a wealth of information; just take a stroll through Snellville Patch. You’ll find numerous articles, interviews and references to other information sources.

The polls at are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. tomorrow, November 8. Every vote counts. Make sure yours is one of them.