Democracy And Voting

Message from Suzanne Stout

OSWEGO COUNTY – After the EPA article that was published on Friday, March 20, The Environmental Committee and Access Committee of We the People of Oswego Indivisible are continuing to provide pertinent information to the residents of Oswego County.   

We are in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic and voting issues are probably the last thing on peoples’ minds.  However, since the Supreme Court’s recent Michigan decision to not extend time for primary mail-in ballots and other efforts to curb voting, our right to vote is being seriously jeopardized.  How citizens elect to be governed in the coming elections is also in jeopardy with voter suppression.  Voting is the core of a democracy, yet so many forget what democracy means.

The definition of a democracy is, “government by the people; a form of government in which the supreme power is vested in the people and exercised directly by them or by their elected agents under a free electoral system.  An extension of this definition is, “formal equality rights and privileges…..as distinguished from any privileged class.”

Often we lose sight of what we expect from our government through our elected officials.  Our “freedoms” are taken for granted especially during frightening times.  We expect equality under the law and by law enforcement.  We should expect racial equality and fair taxation, equality in educational and employment opportunities.  We expect to be able to pursue happiness without discrimination.  However, our “democracy” is spiraling in the opposite direction.  Major problems are ennui, disinterest and cynicism, freedoms taken for granted, uninformed populace, lack of trust in the media and politicians, or people too busy making ends meet.  We let those in power continue to rule to their benefit; we don’t know what’s going on.  We don’t care; we don’t vote.  

Voter registration sites were planned throughout the county, but due to human contact limitations, these had to be canceled.  To help improve voter participation, the following information is essential.  Due to the coronavirus, and Senator Bernie Sanders withdrawing as a presidential candidate, some changes have had to be made in the ballot and some continue to be considered in NYS.  Voting by mail is now available in NYS by governor executive order as well as early voting.  

Deadline dates from the Board of Elections are listed below for the congressional state and local primary on June 23:

• Friday, May 29 is the deadline to register for the June 23 primary election.
• Application to receive mail-in ballot for the June 23 primary election deadline is June 16; ballot must be postmarked by June 22.
• Early voting for primaries isscheduled from June 13 to June 21, times TBA.

Deadline dates for the general election on November 3 are listed below:

• Friday, October 9 is the deadline to register for the November 3 general election.
• Application to receive mail-in ballot for the November 3 general election deadline is October 27; ballot must be postmarked by November 22.
• Early voting for the general election is from October 24 to November 1, times TBA.

Early voting will be at the Board of Elections offices. Applications can be obtained on line, in Post Offices, or at the Board of Elections office, 185 E. Seneca. St., Oswego. Ballots will be mailed after receipt of applications.  Updates and changes will be forthcoming.

Past voting statistics are grim nationally as well as locally in Oswego County, as seen below.

In off-year, Oswego local elections:   

• 2017, 31% of registered Democrats voted.
• 2017, 37% of registered Republicans voted.
• 2019, 28% of registered Democrats voted.
• 2019, 36% of registered Republicans voted.

In Congressional and top-ticket Oswego County elections:

• 2016, 66%  of registered Democrats voted.
• 2016, 72%  of registered Republicans voted.
• 2018, 59% of registered Democrats voted.
• 2018, 63% of registered Republicans voted.

Overall US voter turnout for local elections 2017 and 2019 respectively was 30% and 28%.  For 2016 and 2018 for national elections, total turnout was 69% and 56%.   In the 2016 nationwide election, 46.9 % of the eligible population did not vote.  In Oswego County, 31% overall did not vote.  As noted in the above statistics, more Republicans vote locally

These are poor examples of “government by the people.”

Comments for not voting range from “My vote won’t make a difference,” “They’re all crooked,” “I don’t trust our government,” and most often, “I don’t care and don’t follow politics.”  These are not valid excuses. It’s time to get out and vote.  Every vote does count.  No more excuses. 

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