Letter: Franklin County voters need to step up to the plate

This primary election, Franklin County voters were blessed with a plethora of candidates seeking elective office — 120 candidates filed for 32 elective offices.

Unfortunately, voters failed to venerate their blessings.

Registered voter turnout in Washington’s 39 counties ranged from a high of 52.04 percent (San Juan), to a low of 28.09 (Franklin). Adjacent counties? Adams, 32.37; Benton, 33.49; Columbia, 42.59; Grant, 31.34; Walla Walla 37.28; Whitman, 34.47. Statewide, 34.87. Franklin remained lowest until worsted by Yakima (27.63) at certification.

Each election is consequential. Primaries permit voters to select the top two candidates who face off in November. Primary and high-cost February/special elections are favored by local agencies to increase tax burdens (levy/sales/public facility/bonds) as low voter turnout and lack of mailed voter guides promote approval.

Washington’s convenient mail-in/drop-off voting system leaves no credible excuse for failing the franchise. Our indifference will ensure west-side dominance well into the future.

November 2016 provides numerous election choices. Federal, state executive, legislative, judicial, county commissioners. A well-qualified local state treasurer candidate.

“It is not in the stars to hold our destiny but in ourselves” — William Shakespeare. Your vote, not the stars, determines our destiny.

This story was originally published August 21, 2016 at 5:27 AM with the headline "Letter: Franklin County voters need to step up to the plate."