Your Vote Counts

from the October 21, 2008 eNews issue

Here in the United States our national elections are only two weeks away. The media frenzy over the presidential race has reached a fever pitch, and it seems the nation is sharply divided along ideological and party lines.

The 2004 presidential election boasted the highest voter turnout in almost 40 years. An estimated 120 million people voted. This year's elections could once again bring a record numbers to the polls. However despite the high voter turnout for the 2004 election, only about half of all eligible voters cast their ballots.

Why do so many Americans choose not to vote? If you ask the average American what is the biggest problem facing our nation, is it ignorance or apathy? They will most likely answer, "I don't know and I don't care!"

For the most part, Christians are not any different. Only about one out of every four evangelical Christians votes. According to the Pew Research Center, in the 2000 presidential election, one of the closest elections in our nation's history, 24 million of the nation's 59 million evangelicals, who were qualified to vote, were not registered. Of the 35 million who were registered, only 15 million actually cast their ballots. There are a lot of reasons why Christians don't vote. Many believe that their vote won't have an impact. After all, what difference can one person make?

One Vote

After the 2000 presidential election, never again should individuals need to question whether their vote really matters. You will remember, George W. Bush won by 4 electoral votes, but Al Gore won the popular vote by 337,576 votes. Bush was the first presidential candidate in more than a century to win the presidency while losing the popular vote. The deciding factor in Bush winning the election was a victory in Florida by just 537 votes. Not only was Florida extremely close, but so was New Mexico, Iowa, Wisconsin, and several other states. At one point, in New Mexico, the two candidates were separated by only four votes statewide. Likewise, there have been at least seven other presidential contests in the last hundred years in which an average of just one vote per precinct in four or less states would have changed the outcome of the election.

The media tends to focus on the race for the highest office in the land, which is important, but we also need to be aware of what's happening at the state and local level. City, county, and state officials often have a more direct impact on public policy than our national representatives.

There is a lot at stake this year. Not only are we electing a new president, but all 435 seats in the US House of Representatives are up for grabs along with one-third of the seats in the US Senate. We will also be asked to choose 11 governors, as well as various state and local officials. In several states there are key referendums on the ballot, such as California's purposed constitutional amendment on the subject of same-sex marriages and a measure banning most abortions in South Dakota.

We enjoy a unique mandate: a government of the people, by the people, and for the people. We have a responsibility as citizens and we will be held accountable for our stewardship of this nation. Over the next two weeks, take the time to examine the various candidates and initiatives. Take your responsibilities as a citizen seriously, do your homework, and remember to vote on November 4th.