You Should Vote Because... Ferndale Patch Readers Give Their 2 Cents

Where have all the voters gone?

Last November, when voters voted in Rick Snyder, 41 percent of those registered came out for the vote. In 2009, when former Ferndale Mayor Craig Covey won his re-election to the seat, only 14 percent came out to vote. And in 2008, when an Illinois Senator named Barack Obama won the presidency, 52 percent of registered voters made that decision in Ferndale.

So, where is everyone? We took the position of that non-voter and asked our readers: Why should I vote?

Below are some of the responses. Agree? Disagree? Have something better? Tell us about it.

• Darlene Johnson-Bignotti: Because it is a right still denied others in certain countries. Because someone died for your right to do it. Because even if your cause or candidate is defeated, you were part of the process. Because it does count. Because if you are too lazy to vote, you don't get to sit on your lazy ass and complain about the problems. Because part of the problem is people like you.

• Sherry Kruzman-Martin: My personal opinion has always been - if you don't vote then you don't have the right to complain about what is happening around you.

• Jason Sabe Tudo Tatseos: Voting is a right, but more importantly, a responsibility. Quite frankly, people who aren't motivated enough to vote aren't motivated enough to learn about the candidates or the issues, and therefore should not be encouraged to vote. I think the less ignorant or lazy people we have voting the better. That goes for single-issue voters, automatic party ticket voters, and anyone who gets their news from Saturday night live. 

• Brian Clark: In Ferndale perhaps some feel it's easier to downplay the importance of the election due to the similarity of the candidates' positions and a lack of clear differences in direction. I think you reach people by showing them how the issues affect their lives. Maybe these candidates just haven't been able to do that. It's not like one candidate is suggesting we double the budget to provide free pizzas while another is saying we should lay off all the police and fire fighters and close the library. Regardless, I think it's important to vote in every election, and I think every resident in the city of voting age should vote.

• Patrick Montgomery: Instill a non-voter tax.

• Shannon Curtis Werenka: If you don't vote, don't (complain) ;)

• Greg Pawlica: I think we should create a nice Thanksgiving holiday light sign that can be put on everyone's lawn that DIDN'T vote. Since they choose to be un-informed about their local elections, then they probably won't know what the sign even means.

• Ryan McDevitt: You should vote because if you don't, all the speaking, debate and deliberation about "how things should be" technically and literally falls silent.

• Ann Warner: People should vote b/c they live in a democracy, which doesn't work without informed voters.

• Linda Baker: Voting is a right but also a responsibility - if you don't vote you have no room to gripe if things bother you - I always took my children into the voting booths with me when they were little and they loved to pull the handle to close the privacy cloth and pull the levers I indicated - I now take my granddaughter whenever possible and she likes to help put the ballot into the machine and hand back the sleeve. It is too important to overlook - voting by absentee ballot is easy so there are no excuses for homebound people or those without the ability to get to the polls.

• Sharon Kaiser: As a young girl, I lived across the street from a polling location. I'd love to sit on our porch and watch the hoards of people flock to the school to vote. People stood in long lines waiting for their turn to cast their vote. I take great pride in casting my vote. I feel patriotic. Too many men and women sacrificed their lives so that I have this right. Shame on those who do not appreciate that sacrifice and exercise their right to vote.

• Jeanne Ruzzin: Because if you do not, you then in my book, you forfeit your right to complain about all things affected by government. I refuse to listen if you're not going to attempt to fix things by doing your civic duty and voting.

Read about Ferndale's Nov. 8 election .