YOUR Vote REALLY Counts!
Radio Commentary, 90.7, 91.7 New Life FM, October 31, 2014 – By Sue Ella Deadwyler
You may be disgusted with your choice of candidates, but, if history repeats itself, your vote may decide the election. Consider this.
In the 1986 race for the U.S. House of Representatives, Arlan Strangeland of Barnesville, MN defeated Collin Peterson by 142 votes out of 186,320. That’s less than one vote per precinct.
In a 1974 special election in Pennsylvania, John Murtha defeated Harry Fox by a total of 122 votes in 430 precincts of the 12th Congressional District. Murtha won by a margin of one-fourth of a vote per precinct!
In the 1960 Presidential Election, John F. Kennedy defeated Richard Nixon by 113,000 votes. That was about one-half vote per precinct.
In 1948 in Texas, Lyndon Johnson was elected to the U.S. Senate by 87 votes out of 988,295 in 6,000 precincts. That means he won by 1/69th of a vote per precinct.
In 1918, Woodrow Wilson carried the State of California with less than one vote per precinct. California’s electoral vote made the difference and Wilson was re-elected President.
If you’re not enthusiastic about the candidates, remember this. There’s always a candidate that’s less-bad than the other one. So, don’t play “sick” on November 4th. It’s Election Day! Some ballots may have area-specific questions to answer, but EVERY ballot will have three state-wide questions. Two of them propose changes to the State Constitution and the other is about tax-free facilities on college campuses.
Proposed Constitutional Amendment A would prohibit an increase in the state income tax rate. Reportedly, Georgia has the country’s highest maximum marginal tax bracket. Proposed Constitutional Amendment B adds driving penalties or fees to the brain and spinal injury trust fund. The Proposed Statewide Referendum would continue the current tax-exemption for property owned by the University System of Georgia and operated by providers of student housing and other facilities. I’ll vote YES on all three state-wide questions.
If you’re still confused about voting, remember this: Republicans want Americans to own their own health insurance. Democrats want nationalized health care. Republicans support gun rights, Democrats want more gun control. Republicans affirm the rights of unborn children and Democrats want unlimited abortion. Republicans support marriage between a man and a woman; Democrats support same-sex marriage. See how important your vote is? For Georgia Insight I’m Sue Ella Deadwyler, your Capitol correspondent.