Often times people look at the national elections taking place and become disheartened by the fact that their vote does not matter, after all Utah is going to vote for McCain and there is nothing we can do to change that.  These people, sadly, are absolutely right.  No matter all he hooting and hollering, after all the rallies, a victory by Obama in Utah is about as likely as Utah legalizing gambling and liquor sales in stores – it just ain’t gonna happen.

So why bother voting in the first place? I mean the national election is already a foregone conclusion; your vote clearly does not matter and will not make a difference.  What is the point in showing up in the first place?

Well, let me tell you cynical Sally, this attitude is fundamentally flawed.  True, your vote will do little to sway the national election, but this dose not mean that your vote does not count. 

This year you will have the opportunity to vote on all sorts of candidates and ballot initiatives that will greatly affect you.  Everyone in the state will vote for offices such as governor, attorney general, state auditor (the dude what does give out the money), and state legislative races. In some cases people will be voting for school board members, city or county mayors, city council members, and even initiatives such as allowing a new coal power plant or expanding the Hogle Zoo.

These issues are very real and can easily be influenced by your vote. It is only logical that you have more influence over a state house race than you do over a presidential race. In a house race you re one of about 12,000 people who will vote as opposed o one in 150 million in a presidential election.  

Ah but you still say to me “one in 12,000 is still an amazing small percentage, how can my vote matter?” Good question, and this question is exactly why the Young Democrats of Utah have launched the 18 votes initiative.  Four elections in 2006 were won by less than 100 votes, the most notable being Laura Black versus Mark Walker (who would later be charged with bribery in the state treasurer’s race) where the Black lost by only 18 votes and the most important being Jay Seegmiller who lost to the current Speaker of the House Greg Curtis by 20 votes.  

Now you may not know 100 people who should have voted last time but didn’t, but I bet you do know one or two.  Imagine if you and you, along with your friends and neighbors, got out and voted during this last election.  Things, such as school vouchers or lower tuition for college, could have had very different outcomes. 

Think about that and then ask yourself if your vote matters; hope to see you November 4th.