Vote or be fined

To the editor:

It is clear to me that the 27.5 percent voter turnout in our recent primary election represents a failed democratic process. We do not know who the majority of registered voters want since the majority did not vote.

Most Republicans, by not voting in their primary, have allowed a few Tea Party extremists to elect Joe Miller as the only Republican choice in Alaska’s general Senate election. Less than half of this 27.5 percent voter turnout actually voted for Miller, and this small minority is not nearly enough to elect Miller in a general election.

So, in the general election most moderate Republicans and Independents, by not voting in the primary, will have forced the election of the Democrat candidate as the only moderate option. A historic performance, Alaskans!

Let’s introduce legislation to impose a $100 fine on all registered voters who do not vote. This ticket can be mailed out to the address on the voter registration rolls automatically to all those whose signatures do not appear at the end of every Election Day.

Apathy is an enemy of democracy and apathetic, lazy non-voters can destroy our democracy, as evidenced in this failed election. And they should be punished as the enemies of democracy that they are.

Daniel N. Russell

Willow