Travis County Constable, Pct. 5 - October 2004 Constable's Notebook

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Carlos B. Lopez, Constable

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Constable's Notebook - October 2004

Since early voting for the November elections begins on October 18th it is once again time for me to challenge everyone to participate in their democracy by casting their vote.

The United States was founded on the principle of a participatory democracy. It took significant majorities of the citizens in each of the 13 colonies to rise up, vote to break away from Great Britain and make their decision stick. If half or more colonists stood on the sidelines we would still be a part of England. Back then only white males who owned property were eligible to vote. The outcome of the Civil War affirmed the right (if not the reality) of male minorities to vote. American women won the right to vote less than 100 years ago and the Voting Rights Act that guaranteed the right to vote for all citizens is just 40 years old.

Voter registration laws now make registering to vote easier than ever. Early voting enables voters to vote at any of a variety of convenient polling stations throughout Travis County for a 12-day period preceding election day. There are more new outlets than ever including TV, radio, newspapers, the internet and voter guides such as the League of Women Voters lwvaustin.org.

So here’s a quick review. The rights of all citizens to vote have been secured, voter registration has been made as quick and easy. Information about candidates and issues is readily available at the touch of a dial, flip of a page or the click of a mouse. Voting occurs not just on election-day but for12 days leading up to election day. And polling places are not just in one spot but are located throughout Travis County.

It seems pretty hard to find an excuse not to vote. But if history in any guide, just 50% or more than 55 million eligible and registered American citizens will make excuses to not participate in choosing the leaders whose decisions will have direct and profound impacts on our jobs, our kids, our environment, our health and our security, domestic and foreign. In fact in 2000 the Unites States of America, which we hold out to the rest of the world as the beacon of democracy, posted the third lowest voter turnout of any democracy on earth.

One of our most important responsibilities as citizens is to participate in the election of our leaders. I am grateful that most Americans did participate during critical periods of American history. Many scholars and political scientists believe that this election is the most important in decades. While we won’t know that for sure until the history of this period is written, hopefully historians will be able to record that most Americans did weigh in on the important issues of the day. Election Day is November 2, I look forward to seeing all of you at the polls!


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