YES on 2E: It’s quantity not quality in voting

By Kelly Cushing, published in the Boulder Daily Camera:

Let Democracy thrive by changing city council elections to even years. I recently read Bob Yates’ monthly newsletter in which he vehemently opposes the proposal to change the city council election from odd- to even-year election cycles. In his objection, he wrote, “Maybe the motive here really is to get more people to vote in city council elections, under the belief that quantity is better than quality.” The context here suggests the councilman disagrees with increasing voter turnout (increasing quantity) and rather, prefers only “quality” votes be cast. I have just one question: How exactly is a “quality” vote defined?

According to the National Civic League, older, affluent white voters have a significantly higher turnout in local elections compared to lower income minorities. Research also shows when local policy is disproportionately influenced by older, affluent white voters it leads to poorer outcomes for minorities. So the motive here is indeed “quantity,” or in other words, a more representative democracy. Any suggestion to favor “quality” of votes over “quantity” of votes is elitist, anti-democratic and reeks of voter suppression.

It’s no secret voter turnout for odd year local elections is poor. Research shows that voter turnout during even year local elections is double that of off-cycle elections. Baltimore’s voter turnout increased from 13% to 60% when making the change. Los Angeles saw a 400% increase, along with a more representative electorate, in terms of race, age and class.

Abraham Lincoln evoked the principles of human equality when he famously described democracy as a government “of the people, by the people, for the people.” He didn’t say of the “quality” people, by the “quality” people, for the “quality” people. Go register to vote and vote for even year local elections, so our elected leaders best represent our community.