The Importance of Voting

Most Americans would agree that 2016 has given us one of the ugliest presidential campaigns in history. As a result, you may be one of many who feel like your vote doesn’t count, or that taking the time to cast your ballot is just too much of a hassle. After all, what difference would it make if just one person - you - decided to stay home?

Well, I can tell you from experience how grateful I am for the nine anonymous citizens who fought that impulse and decided to cast their ballots for me in the June Primary Election. Just nine people. But they made the difference between an entrenched incumbent who had lost touch with his voters and someone with fresh ideas and a willingness to listen to everyday people in District 53.
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Of course, it’s easy to see why the Presidential, US Senate, US Congressional races are important. But did you know that the number of Republican votes cast in your precinct for Governor/Lt. Governor, State Attorney General, State Auditor, and State Treasurer determines how many delegates will get to represent your precinct during the next four years? (This is called “Relative Republican Strength”, see the Utah Republican Party Constitution, Article XII, Sections 1A & 2C.) The more delegates that come from your precinct, the stronger your collective voice when it comes time to participate in party conventions and decisions.

In some counties and precincts, there are also races for state and local school boards, state senate, county commissioners, and more. Each one of these elected officials make important decisions that impact our daily lives, especially our families and our wallets. And let’s not forget the multiple constitutional amendments, ballot opinions, and judicial retention votes that also appear on our ballots.

Are you worried that you don’t know enough to vote? Information is readily available; you just need to know where to look for it. I suggest first checking out vote.utah.gov, where you can enter your address, see a sample ballot, learn how and where to submit your ballot, and track it to make sure your vote was counted. I’ve also found Ballotpedia to be a great resource for voter information.

With Veteran’s Day just around the corner, it’s particularly important to remember the hundreds of thousands of brave citizens who risked everything to protect our freedoms, especially our right to choose those leaders who must represent us in government. I believe that we will stand accountable for how we choose to exercise these freedoms that were bought at such a great cost.

​In light of all of these reasons, are you going to let an ugly presidential race keep you from sharing your voice and casting your vote? I hope not. And while you’re at it, don’t forget to vote for me, Logan Wilde, for Utah House District 53!