Does Your Vote Count?

Does Your Vote Count?

By State Rep. Richard F. Ferrari, East Granby

It wouldn't be unusual if you, as a voter, had asked yourself as you waited in line to cast your ballot on Election Day whether your vote really makes a difference. But in at least four closely contested state House races across Connecticut, when the final results were tallied, the winners were thanking their lucky stars that enough of their supporters had voted, while the losers were shaking their heads in disbelief because not enough of their people had come out.

In the closest race, Republican Anne L. Ruwet defeated incumbent Democrat John S. Kovaleski by one vote (3,236 to 3,235) to claim Torrington's 65th Assembly District seat. In other close Connecticut House races, Republican Bob Congdon edged out incumbent Democrat Mary McGrattan (3,635 to 3,630) to win the 42nd District seat (Ledyard, Montville, Preston); Republican Kevin Witkos unseated incumbent 17th Assembly District (Avon, Canton) Democrat Jessie Stratton (4,819 to 4,781); and Republican Janice R. Giegler was the winner in the 138th District (Danbury, New Fairfield), defeating Democrat incumbent Grace M. Scire (2,992 to 2,976).

Those races and others like them around the country clearly demonstrate that one person's vote does count. Any of those races could have gone the other way if a few more voters inclined to support the incumbents had gotten out and voted.

Why voter participation in elections in Connecticut and elsewhere in the country has declined over the past 30 years has never been adequately explained to me. Some observers contend that election polling—especially in races where one candidate is ahead by 15 or more points—tends to discourage turnout because polls seem to show that the outcome of a race is a foregone conclusion even though the election may be weeks or even months away.

I would point out, as others have, that polls only show which candidates people are leaning toward at the time they are taken. A lot can happen—even in the week before an election—to turn things around and sweep even the most improbable underdog into office. In addition, as the most recent election cycle showed, polls are not as accurate as they used to be. Some candidates who had been enjoying comfortable early leads in the polls but seemed to be losing ground in the last two weeks before Election Day ended up winning by sizeable margins after all. Others ended up winning by margins that were much narrower than the polls had forecast. And some candidates that the polls had anointed as winners ended up losing.

Why the polls were inaccurate is anyone's guess. The fact remains that the only accurate poll is the one taken on Election Day after all the votes are counted. The outcome of an election is determined not by advance polls but by people who take the time to vote.

Other observers attribute low voter turnout to the apparent belief among some voters that there is little or no difference between the two major parties. Voters who think that way are less likely to vote because they believe the outcome of elections will have little or no effect on their lives.

As a person who has been active in local and state politics for many years, I can state with confidence that there are clear differences between the parties and that election outcomes do matter. In general, Republicans believe in limited government, while Democrats think government should play a larger and more intrusive role in our everyday lives. While that may be an oversimplification, it is as good a starting point as any for a discussion of the differences between the two parties. The more voters take the time to look into the philosophical differences between the parties, the less likely they will be to dismiss the effect they have on how we live in our country, our state and our towns.

The very real differences between the two parties are an important reason not only for registering to vote and voting, but for registering with a party as well. Those who do not register with a party do not have a role in determining which candidates are nominated to run for office. Only party members can participate in party caucuses, nominating conventions and primaries. Unaffiliated voters can only vote for candidates that have been chosen by members of the party that nominated them, whereas party members can be part of the process from the very beginning.

Political parties also should be playing a bigger role in educating American citizens about the principles and beliefs that they espouse as political organizations. They also should be working harder not just to register voters but to encourage voters to register with a party and participate actively in the political process. That is how our democracy is maintained and strengthened.

As citizens, choosing those who want to govern us is our fundamental right and duty. When too many of us fail to exercise that right and obligation, the roots of self-government wither and die. Should that occur, it will be too late to reclaim something important that was lost along the way—our freedom.

Representative Ferarri represents Connecticut’s 62nd District, which includes the towns of Barkhamsted, East Granby, Granby and New Hartford.