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Oct. 30, 2009
Dear friends and neighbors,
If you are a registered
voter, you've likely received your general election ballot in the mail
by now. In nearly all of Washington, voters now get their ballots in the
mail about two-and-a-half weeks before Election Day. Not only is mail-in
voting convenient, but it gives voters the time and opportunity to
study the ballot, research issues and candidates, and make informed
decisions. Unfortunately, too many people set their ballots aside, along
with other mail, and forget about them.
Secretary of State Sam
Reed predicts voter turnout will be only 51 percent across Washington.
He noted, "It's sad to think of nearly half the electorate sitting this
one out, particularly when so much is at stake."
Four years ago, during the
first free elections in Iraq in 50 years, people dodged bullets to cast
their ballots. Along a Baghdad street, a man thrust forward his
ink-stained finger. "Whatever they would do, I would still vote," he
said.
Although this year's
election may not rise to the magnitude of the first free election of a
nation, there are still very important issues and races to be decided.
Two statewide issues are
on this year's ballot: Initiative 1033 proposes capping annual growth in
city and county general funds, with excess revenue dedicated to property
tax relief; Referendum 71 asks voters to approve or reject domestic
partnership legislation that passed the Legislature last spring.
In addition, many local
races are on the ballot. Local governments are the
level of government closest to our daily lives, affecting everything from potholes to
budget priorities, and the future of our schools. Your vote holds
leaders accountable for the decisions they make. It affirms our ability
as citizens to elect our government and take part in one of the greatest
rights a free nation can have -- the right to vote.
When you finish reading
this e-mail, I encourage you to pick up your ballot and voter's pamphlet.
Please read the material to learn more about the issues and the candidates. If
you don't have a voters' pamphlet, you may access one online by the
following links, according to the county in which you live:
Once you read through the pamphlet, be sure to vote and mail in your ballot to be postmarked by
Nov. 3. It may be one of the most important things you do this year!
As Daniel Webster said,
"Impress upon children the truth that the exercise of the elective
franchise is a social duty of as solemn a nature as man can be called to
perform; that a man may not innocently trifle with his vote; that every
elector is a trustee as well for others as himself, and that every
measure he supports has an important bearing on the interests of others
as well as on his own."
Please, exercise your
right to vote!
As always, I welcome your comments.
Please
click here to contact my office through our e-mail
service.
It is an honor to serve you.
Sincerely,
Dan Kristiansen
State Representative
39th Legislative District
P.S. - When e-mailing me, please do not hit
reply to this e-mail as I will not receive the
response. Instead, I invite you to
click here and e-mail me. Thank
you! |
