A vote for “none of the above”
An outstanding editorial, “A welcome attempt to increase voting,” appeared in the Observer-Reporter Nov. 19. The editorial pointed out that voter participation in Pennsylvania is tepid. It stated, “Certainly, people who are eligible to vote and fail to do so are not blameless. We believe it is the duty of citizens to participate in the electoral process, even if it is not especially user friendly.”
The editorial also pointed to Keystone Votes, a group that is searching for incentives that have increased voter participation elsewhere. If it were in my purview, I would have local election ballots revised to offer a choice of “none of the above.”
During political campaigns, I am deluged with glitzy fliers totally lacking in substance but chock-full of puffery, and pesky telephone messages asking for my vote. Never once has such fervor been used to promote issues affecting the general welfare, such as consolidating multiple local school districts, elevating public libraries to their rightful level of eminence within communities, expanding and updating local thoroughfares, establishing a local stormwater management program or replacing every lost job with a new livelihood.
In some states, voters are allowed to vote for “none of the above.” Allowing that would go a long way toward making our local election process more user friendly and would result in increased voter participation.
Paul Lagojda
Cumberland Township