Numbers not kind to Valley voters

Wasilla voters followed up a disappointing showing at the polls for the Oct. 7 municipal election of less than 22 percent turnout with a dismal 15 percent in Tuesday’s run-off election between Marty Metiva and Verne Rupright.

What’s worrisome is that that this week’s Wasilla run-off turnout is not an anomaly; rather, it’s a testament to a recent history of voter apathy in the Mat-Su Valley. With a general election fast approaching on Tuesday, many believe the overall turnout will be bolstered by Gov. Sarah Palin, a Wasilla resident, being on the Republican presidential ticket.

We want to count ourselves among those who believe, but for this to be true, local voters will have to shake the rust off their balloting fingers and get to the polls. In the last general election in 2006, Palin was also on the ticket for governor. Yet, in her own backyard, the Mat-Su Borough, the highest turnout in any of the Borough’s four main districts (13, 14, 15 and 16), only District 16 topped 60 percent turnout. In fact, with the exception of District 16, which had a respectable 81 percent turnout in 2004, the last presidential general election drew less than 50 percent of registered Valley voters.

When it comes to more local races, Valley voting booths are even more lonely. This year’s primary saw no more than 46 percent turnout from local districts, while the Oct. 7 municipal election drew just over 17 percent of Borough voters. That was down significantly over the nearly 29 percent who turned out in 2006 and the 27.68 percent who voted in the 2005 municipal election.

The numbers don’t lie, and what they say about the Mat-Su Valley is that even those elections that typically draw more voter interest don’t for nearly half those registered to cast ballots here. It’s a sad state for such a politically charged area, like the Mat-Su Valley, to not back up its reputation by being bulldogs at the ballot box.

We have another opportunity to reverse this trend on Tuesday. If you haven’t already voted, do so. Whatever your political leanings, history has shown that every vote does count. Voting is not a chore, it’s a responsibility that far too often is taken for granted.

A common lament about our political leaders is, “well, I didn’t vote for them.” About half the time in the Valley, this translates simply to “well, I didn’t vote.” The only way to elect leadership that truly represents a majority of the people is for those people to participate in the process.

To borrow a directive from Nike: Just do it.