If you read the paper or watch the news, you'd think there has been a large increase in people interested in what government is doing: tea parties, packed town hall meetings and more.

Where Are All The Voters?

From The Oklahomans For Responsible Government Blog

But then you look at some of the election results from Tuesday and it makes you wonder.

Lone Grove, for example, had only 156 people turn out to vote in a city council race. Of course, that's almost double the 86 people that voted in one of Piedmont's city council wards. And Piedmont looks like a bastion of civic pride compared to the 30 - yes, 30! - people that turned out to vote in Noble's Ward 3.

In the Gypsy School District in Creek County, 100 people decided to vote on bond issues for a bus barn and buses. There are more students in the district (128) than people who voted in the election! El Dorado Schools in Jackson County has an enrollment of 111 students and 134 people voted on a $150-thousand bond issue.

Wellston in Lincoln County will continue a half-cent sales tax for streets and sidewalks because of 34 people. Wellston has an estimated population of 834, so 4% of the population decided something that affects everyone in the city.

And don't think we're picking only on the little towns. Only 263 people voted for a school board seat in the Oklahoma City School District (enrollment 42,570). That's less than the 302 people who voted in a race for Paden School Board (enrollment 238)!

We talk a lot about transparency and fiscal responsibility in government, but there is a responsibility on the taxpayer as well. You need to be informed and cast your vote. These school boards are the ones overseeing the money intended to educate your children. These city councils decide what your community will look like over the next four years and beyond. These are just as important as health care reform or carbon emission taxes.

If we don't exercise our right to vote, those who get elected may choose to represent interests other than that of the taxpayer. After all, if I can get 29 of my friends to vote for me and get elected, why should I care about anything other than those 29 friends?