Letter to the Editor
By Robbie Davis
Tuesday, November 6, is Election Day! Several San Gabriel Valley communities will be electing school boards, library boards, or water boards or deciding local ballot measures. Unfortunately, according to one source, it is expected that only 5 percent of eligible voters will bother to cast a ballot. This is incredibly discouraging.
It is often said that, “All politics is local.” Water, schools and libraries are critical services that we take advantage of every day. The people who make decisions about these services in our area are the first link in the chain of governmental responsibility that stretches all the way to Washington, D.C.
Presidential politics may seem more exciting (and get more press), but local politics is where “the rubber meets the road.” By not voting in local elections, citizens throw away their constitutional right to get in on the ground floor of democracy. They’re also wasting a lot of their own hard earned tax dollars since the election will be held no matter how many vote – or don’t vote.
So, please, take part in the democratic process. Vote on November 6. (The deadline to register to vote in this election is October 22.) For more information on election activity in your area, go to www.smartvoter.org.
Robbie Davis is the Voter Service Director of the Pasadena Area League of Women Voters.
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