Voter turnout in last week’s Haines Municipal Election was only 38.8 percent. The top vote getter received votes from only 20 percent of the registered voters. The second vote getter was elected by an unbelievable 2 vote margin and only received votes from 18 percent of registered voters.
Early voting was open for nearly a month before the election and absentee ballots are accepted by mail, fax, and email. Every vote is important and Haines has a long history of elections being won and lost by just a handful of votes. In the last year the assembly has taken controversial positions that some residents argue are in contrast to the desires of the majority of the residents of Haines. The majority of the voters sit home on election night and then wonder why the assembly is making decisions in contrast with the desires of the majority of residents. Assembly members are not elected by a majority of the residents of Haines. They are elected by the most votes that are received from the minority of residents that take the time and effort to vote at the election.
On November 6 we have another election and the results will have direct impacts for our community. On the ballot we will be voting for our State Representative, State Senator, and deciding the controversial Ballot Measure 1. Please leave your apathy at home and get out and vote at the next election. Let’s make a difference for our community.
Brenda Josephson