Save democracy — vote
- October 27, 2014
- / Shannon Nickinson
- / government
Thanks to early voting, Election Day can last for up to two weeks.
Which means, brothers and sisters, you have no excuse this time.
Voter turnout in the Aug. 26 primary was pathetic.
In Santa Rosa, many races were decided in the primary — which saw 14.75 percent voter turnout. In Escambia County, turnout for the primary was a paltry 16.78 percent.
We’ll have to wait until the evening of Nov. 4 to learn if we make a better showing in the general election, but low-interest in a non-presidential election year is a concern at all levels of politics.
This year is an off-year election cycle; without a presidential election to drive turnout, too many folks don’t bother to go to the polls.
The data don’t lie:
— In presidential election years, Pensacola metro area voters show up. In 2012, 71.8 percent; in 2008, 76.5 percent; in 2004, 73.8 percent.
— In off years, that drops nearly by half — in 2010, voter turnout was 47.5 percent; in 2006, it was 45.3 percent.
This, friends, means prospects for a healthy democracy are grim.
But there still is time to turn this thing around. We can get the democracy we deserve by participating in it.
Vote early in Escambia County at one of these seven locations through Nov. 1:
— Escambia County Extension Services, 3740 Stefani Road, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
— Molino Community Center, 6450 Highway 95A North, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
— Southwest Branch Library, 12248 Gulf Beach Highway, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
— Genealogy Branch Library, 5740 N. 9th Avenue, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
— Main Library, 239 N. Spring Street, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
— Bellview/Saufley Early Vote Site, 4607 Saufley Field Road , 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
— Supervisor of Elections Main Office, 213 Palafox Place, Second Floor, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Question? Go here.
In Santa Rosa, early vote from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. through Nov. 1 at:
— South Santa Rosa Service Center (Annex) at 5841 Gulf Breeze Parkway, Gulf Breeze.
— County Administration Building (Milton Office) at 6495 Caroline Street, Suite F, Milton.
Questions? Go here.
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