Column | Election Turnout

The other day, a few people were talking politics in the newsroom.
They were discussing the chances of a particular candidate on Election Day.
A political gadfly commented a particular candidate has a great “ballot
name” and will surely prevail April 5.
Why is this “ballot name” important?
Because most voters don’t know the issues or the candidates.
They simply go to the polls and select the candidate with the neatest
sounding name.
Sound ridiculous?
It’s not.
Politicians “ballot names” are a well-known trade secret.
In fact, some have gone so far as to change their legal names to sound
better on a ballot.
Those with spiffy names are more likely to win than those without.
If the name sounds like other prominent politicians, that’s good.
If the name reflects the ethnic makeup of the local voters, that’s good as
well.
(One Chicago pol famously added an O’ to the front of his name in the
1950’s.)
Now some may say: “But the voters aren’t that stupid. They don’t just
select those with cool names.”
Of course not.
They also pick those whose names appear at the top of the ballot.
Political science studies clearly show the candidate whose name appears
above her contenders on the ballot has an edge.
Since this is so well known, those who submit their formal candidacies
first get the prize of appearing first on the ballot.
Where a person’s name is located on the ballot does not demonstrate their
vision and should not matter at all.
But it does.
Before an election, newspapers are supposed to explain the importance of
voting and civic participation in local elections.
We are supposed to note that local representatives will be selected to run
local schools, parks, fire districts and village hall’s.
These officials will make key decisions which affect our local community
more than anything politicians in Washington will likely do.
Therefore, it is your steadfast duty to vote.
This is what papers always write.
Not me.
I don’t think everyone should vote.
I’m not upset at low voter turnout.
Only those informed about the issues should go to the polls.
I figure that is somewhere between 35 to 50 percent of people.
So, if you don’t know anything about the issues or candidates, stay home
April 5.
Let others decide.
Otherwise, Democracy will be reduced to a joke.
On the other hand, kudos to those of you who are involved. If you really
like politics, change your name to O’Malley, get on the top of the ballot
and you have a shot.

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