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SALT LAKE CITY — We are eight Tuesdays away from election day, and information about voter registration will soon arrive in your mailbox. In Utah, a lot of voters "click it" for a straight one-party ticket.
Utah is one of 15 states that allows us to check a straight ticket on our ballot. Now maybe it's because I've never voted a straight ballot. Maybe it's because I secretly long for a little more balance in state government. Or maybe it's because I simply don't see the world in black & white.
That's why I believe we need to exercise a lot of caution if we're going to vote a straight ballot. I believe in the words of Theodore Roosevelt: 'The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena; who's face is marred with dust & sweat & blood; who strives valiantly.' Don't we at least owe those who went to the trouble to get on the ballot the courtesy of reading their names?
The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena; who's face is marred with dust & sweat & blood; who strives valiantly.
–Teddy Roosevelt
Here you have the official Salt Lake County ballot — so let's just for kicks and grins vote Republican. So, we're all done right? Oh, long way from it. Let's click ahead. We're OK on the first few pages. You might not be sure who you voted for, but hey — the votes are there. But now we get to page four. District 22 — there's not a Republican running in that race, so you've made no decision there. And then we move forward to page eight: The issues regarding school districts, and school boards, and we get into township issues. How do you feel about that?
We haven't even gotten to the last page — and that happens to be the constitutional amendments and forms of government. If you vote a straight ticket and just walk away, look at all you've missed.
Now remember if you do choose to vote straight ticket, you can go in and modify page by page. But for those who just hit that button and walk away: I'm sorry, but that is a disrespectful and lazy way to vote. But then again, that's just my opinion.
