By HEATHER C. COX
Staff Writer
reporter@sbnewspaper.com
In San Benito alone, over 23,000 residents were eligible to vote in the last city election. Of those, 11,802 were registered to vote by Election Day, yet a meager 1,696 turned out to the polls.
The right to vote is a privilege of a democratic society, and historically the freedom to vote is at least part of the reason early settlers risked their fortunes and families to start afresh in a “land of opportunity.” A time existed when Americans of ethnic heritages and female Americans weren’t allowed to vote. An entire movement known as the women suffragists, extremely radical for the 19th century, was born of a sincere desire for women to be allowed to offer a vote and/or run for political office.
Because it was once a matter of importance, groups supporting women and minorities fought for and won the right to cast a ballot for the officials of their selection, regardless of nationality or gender. It’s not known, exactly, when the option to know and select governing entities became a chore, rather than a privilege, but statistics alone show that something occurred between George Washington taking his oath as president on April 30, 1789, and minorities/women struggling to obtain the right to vote in the 1900s to today – when less than 10 percent of the voting population actually turned out to the polls in a recent city election.
In light of the deadline to register to vote quickly ensuing, on October 9, the News hit the streets to ask everyday members of the community if and how they will utilize their right to vote.
Frances Brock, 51, a home health provider, was sitting in the shade of a grassy knoll when she was approached by this reporter. Brock was quick to say, “Yes, I am registered to vote.” But she also admitted, “I didn’t vote in the last election because I forgot.” Brock laughed while explaining she doesn’t yet know whether or not she’ll turn out to the polls this November.
Contrarily, Omar Araiza, 34, who works at Valley Baptist Medical Center exclaimed, “Yes, of course I vote!” With conviction in his voice, Araiza said, “I voted in the last election. I believe it’s important to steer this country in the right direction. A better way should be sought by everyone.”
Although some of the United States’ founders arguably shared Araiza’s belief, not everyone else does. In San Benito alone, less than half of the people who can vote even register. Of that number, less than 10 percent cast a ballot. Many individuals approached by this reporter admitted they will not vote in the upcoming election, though all but one refused to comment publicly as to why.
“No, I am not registered to vote,” said Ricardo Bella III, 48, who works for the Laguna Madre Water District. With almost the same conviction of Araiza, when asked why, Bella expanded matter-of-factly, “Because I don’t like to vote. I don’t like politics because my ex-wife was a politician. She was the president of something. I had to hold signs and I went through a lot of stuff with elections, and I just don’t like it.”
Some would argue that voting is more than a right, it’s an obligation. Araiza explained, “Absolutely, we have an obligation to vote. We should always be concerned about the direction our country is headed.” He said of America, “We’re obviously not in a good place right now.”
Araiza feels that his vote could be the catalyst which helps turn a disenfranchised country around. Comparatively, Bella, who also said he believes the country is in need of solid leadership, does not believe one vote can do as much. When asked if he feels his vote could help the country, he simply said, “I don’t think it will.”
While the two other individuals polled agreed the country is in need of good leaders, one major discrepancy – at least regarding those approached in this poll – lies in the fact that not all citizens feel their vote matters. Furthermore, in 2008, six million Americans told the US Census Bureau that they did not vote because they did not know how to register or they missed their state’s voter registration deadline.
Araiza said, “I think we should always be concerned about the economy and the direction the country is steering in. We should be concerned with the people who lead.”
Director of Project Development for the START Center of San Benito, Jose Medrano agrees. He said, “We need to get the community involved and encourage voters to go out to the polls.”
Those interested in voting in November have until Tuesday, October 9, to register. Interested nonregistered persons might be eligible to vote if they are: a U.S. citizen; a resident of the county; at least 18 years old; not a convicted felon; not declared mentally incapacitated by a court of law.
The nonpartisan START Center is one resource designated to assist the public with voter registration. To contact the START Center of San Benito, call (956) 399-7818 or visit www.startcenter.org. For Texas voter information visit: www.votetexas.gov; to speak with someone about voting, call (800) 252-VOTE; to register, check registration ability, or to see if you are already registered to vote in Cameron County, visit www.co.cameron.tx.us/election/voter_information.htm.
Read this story in the October 7 edition of the San Benito News, or subscribe to our E-Edition by clicking here.
2 comments
Maybe a door prize to win a brand new truck or a car will get people to go vote. People already know it its an obligation and a responsablity and the demogratic way and a tradition to vote ect. But there has to be another way to get people to get out and vote. Back in the days political canidates would hold pachangas or ralley’s, others would drive around the town honking thier horns in a caravan of cars sporting signs and flags showing thier support for a candidate. as you can see pople still do not get out and vote and statistics have shown. Other just donnot vote because the canadiates are just not what they expect as a good person to lead.
Over 23,000 San Benito residents were eligible to vote in the last election? So virtually the entire city is at least 18 years old?