Deseret News | Utah has nation's worst voter turnout rate

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Utah has nation's worst voter turnout rate

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Surprise! | 8:20 p.m. July 5, 2008

Why vote? You know who the winner will be!
Will someone please talk Matheson into running for Gov again? Huntsman has gone against the wants of the people one to many times!!!!

Linus | 8:40 p.m. July 5, 2008

Scripture says that the people will usually elect good men to represent them. But there is a warning, that when the people elect corrupt leaders, we can no longer expect the blessings of Heaven, and there will be great destruction in the land.

Well, we are in quite a quandary. Republicans and Democrats have united to adopt the new state religion of environmentalism, and they have bought into the delusion of global warming and have pinched our fuel supply to the point of forcing staggering inflation at the expense of the poor and retired. We have no champion. We have no statesmen. We have no good men to vote for.

We have nothing to look forward to now but natural and economic catastrophes. Vote for the candidates in either of the major parties and you get twiddle-dee-deaf or twiddle-dee-dumb. They don't have ears to hear "we the people" or a brain to understand. Where is our motivation to vote????

One Comment | 8:45 p.m. July 5, 2008

Yep, that's all it took for someone to take a Des News article that had nothing at all to do with religion and start slamming the LDS church.

I don't care whether the poster is a Mormon or not. My question is what in the world does low voter turnout have to do with the LDS church?!?!?!?!?

Give me a break...

Comments continue below

Re: Linus | 8:52 p.m. July 5, 2008

I couldn't agree with you more that rampant problems await us for selecting a majorty of politicians with evil and thievery in their hearts.

However, I still think we have a responsibility to pick the best of what there is out there.

If you can't "hold your nose and vote", then don't. But don't we have a responsibility to do the best we can with what we have?

As for me, I was going to vote McCain. I thought a former fighter pilot and POW; doesn't get any more patriotic than that. Then I found out about his complete lack of integrity in his relationship with his first wife (I don't care if he didn't have an affair; he still walked out on a crippled woman who waited for him for years while he was a POW) and I gravitated towards Romney. Now Romney's out. I don't like McCain but he's a whopping lot better than Obama.

May God help us all.

negative Linus | 8:52 p.m. July 5, 2008

Linus, with respect, your post is very pessimistic. I believe in America, we can and we will solve economic, environmental, health, social and education problems. It will take time, hard work, and most of all OPTIMISM.

That's why I'm voting Obama: I want to be optimistic. I voted for Bush twice, which is enough to make anyone pessimistic, but this year I'm voting for Obama and a better future for my kids.

jr | 9:15 p.m. July 5, 2008

the Church doesn't tell you who to vote for they just send a letter out suggesting how to vote. Excuse me I remember the Stake President having his nurses (he was a Dr) calling our homes and suggesting how we should vote - I remember letters being read to Ward members from the HQ over the years. No point in denying such

And now, the rest of the story. | 9:20 p.m. July 5, 2008

The story fails to mention that Utah was tied with West Virginia, Texas and Louisiana as having the worst voter turnout in 2006.

Another point the writer failed to mention was that Utah was only one of 14 states that did not have gubernatorial election in 2006. That drives up voter turnout in 36 other states.

These points were worthy of mentioned in the story. "All the hype, half the story." Another killer story by lee.

positive linus | 9:23 p.m. July 5, 2008

Voting for Obama because of his optimism is like sniffing airplane glue because it makes you happy.

People's lives too full | 9:43 p.m. July 5, 2008

People here have much fuller lives than in other states. Full of trying to raise big families and doing church work. Voting is one more obligation and people have only so much room for room full of obligations and still try to find time for a life.

Anti-environmentalists of devil | 9:46 p.m. July 5, 2008

Linus,

"Well, we are in quite a quandary. Republicans and Democrats have united to adopt the new state religion of environmentalism..."

I don't know what scriptures you read or what faith you are but I'm LDS and intend to follow all of the teachings of the prophets. The prophets have spoken out and they agree with protecting our environment and that's why both Democrats and Republicans have united. Those who oppose this and refer to the teachings of the prophets as a "state religion of environmentalism" are on the adversary's side.

"They don't have ears to hear "we the people" or a brain to understand. Where is our motivation to vote????"

Cut the bull already and say what you mean!

You think that unless everyone agrees with you then they aren't listening to the people because those of us who they are listening too are from aliens from another planet and this is your country. Let me assure you that from Joseph Smith until now the prophets disagree with you. There is a scripture I will refer to "as for me and my house we will follow the Lord" but you are free to follow your master the devil.

re: airplane glue | 9:46 p.m. July 5, 2008

There you go, trying to scare me by linking Obama with drugs. I've seen all the "muslim" rumors too. It's not gonna work on me. I'm an active LDS mom, and I want to be optimistic for my children, things have to change.

I know Obama has no chance in Utah, but he'll do better than expected and that is also change.

Problem Solved | 10:59 p.m. July 5, 2008

Most Utahns are on Mormon Standard Time. Tell people the polls open at seven when they really open at eight. Tell people they close at eight when they really close at nine. The polls need to stay open 1 hour longer.

Emma | 6:32 a.m. July 6, 2008

I live in Georgia and know exactly how the vote will go, we are a red state. I vote anyway. I think it likely has more to do will unimpressive candidates causing voter apathy than religion. Odd though that Puerto Rican voting rates are over double that of anywhere in the continental U.S. per another article.

Anonymous | 3:38 p.m. July 6, 2008

What a bunch of brain-dead feeding frenzy whiner's looking for more cheese to go along with their whines. Utah voters are young uneducated scared of their own shadows robots that have to be lead by their hand to do something by someone else, if and when the sprit moves them, and even misses the point when the LDS Church strongly urges them to get political, just not in church, and unless it's not in The Book Of Mormon, black and white, most are totaly lost. That's why Utah has the worst voting record in the Country, they would rather start a feeding frenzy in a blog, than vote at the polls. Than whine about it latter when something is wrong that they don't like. Or is not moral. That's sad folk's, and it makes me mad as heck, to even see this study, when most all in Utah are Republican's, with common sense, and I thought they knew better. Guess not!. Guess they are mostly moderate's and liberals. That's real sad. Utah voters must wake up and smell their energy drinks (seeing they don't drink coffee)and get with it.

Get real will ya?.

GOP bickering | 7:18 p.m. July 6, 2008

I love it, republicans still fighting amongst each other.

Prediction: Obama wins nationally, gets shocking 45% of vote in Utah (55% in SLC county, 40% in UT county). Of course I don't gamble, but I would bet on this if I did.

Gordon | 8:38 p.m. July 6, 2008

Scholars know that voter turnout has very little to do with the outcome of an election. People vote or don't vote for similar reasons.

So if voter turnout doesn't affect the outcome, why are some people complaining about low voter turnout?

My guess is that apologists for the incumbent political class rightly see high voter turnout as a measure of public support for and acquiescence to the status quo.

And to the extent that the public casts a "null vote" by not registering to vote or staying away from the polls, this shows dissatisfaction with the status quo. And this lack of confidence in the incumbent political class threatens the influence they and their co-conspirators to maintain their power and privilege.

Check out a group called the "League of Non-Voters" for more information.

Missionaries | 11:23 p.m. July 6, 2008

Utah has a lot of missionaries aged 19-22 approx. that are elsewhere in the world, most of whom don't take the steps to getan absentee ballot to vote. That is potentially a few thousand more, so that probably contributes to the low total

Anonymous | 9:30 a.m. July 7, 2008

Utahns are good at doing exactly as they are told:
"subject to Kings, Rulers, Judges, Magistrates."
They appear the happiest when NOT having to make any decisions for themselves.
They make good worker bees for the beekeepers of the beehive in The Beehive State.

election worker | 11:40 a.m. July 7, 2008

Oregon actually had a 70.8 percent turnout in the election you are referring to. I'm not sure how accurate your story is if you list Minnesota at 65 percent as the highest turnout of the election.

Brave Sir Robin | 12:54 p.m. July 7, 2008

I agree w/ the opinions expressed; 1) you know which party will win & 2) having voting taking place during the weekday in a school, library, etc... is hardly ideal for mass turnout. Nudge Nudge Wink Wink. Say no more!

Anonymous | 1:04 p.m. July 7, 2008

Utah with their backward, backwoods, rednecked ways, will always be a little fish in a big ocean.

outsider's perspective | 2:23 p.m. July 7, 2008

I live in Maryland, and several of my friends who have moved here from Utah say things such as this: "I don't vote because I know that it will work out the way it should whether or not I vote. The Lord will take care of things." I'm not kidding...I know 3 women who said something along those lines to me.

Obama Republican | 2:30 p.m. July 7, 2008

When someone is told in sunday school this quote why should they vote?

ï¿½When election draws near we hear members say, ï¿½Why doesn't the Church tell us how to vote?ï¿½ I cannot think of anything that would bring about a greater wholesale apostasy than if we would assume to do that. I say, the Lord has told you how to vote. You read Section 134, verse 3, of the D&C, where the Lord said,

We believe that all governments necessarily require civil officers and magistrates to enforce the laws of the same; and that such as will administer the law in equity and justice should be sought for and upheld by the voice of the people if a republic, or the will of the sovereign.

ï¿½That is what the Lord said. Then I say to them, read Mosiah's wise counsel, when he said, (quotes Mosiah 29:25-26.)

ï¿½I have said to them, ï¿½If you do not know how to vote after you have read those two things, you are dumber than I think you are.ï¿½ Any true Latter-day Saint can know how to vote.ï¿½ HB LEE

Most Lds can't figure out why they vote Rep once they think about it.

People's lives too full?!?!?! | 2:34 p.m. July 7, 2008

In response to the poster at 9:43 p.m. July 5, 2008:

I sure hope that was tongue-in-cheek. Have you ever lived ANYWHERE else in the world? There is no more boring or mundane place in this country than in Utah. I spent 1 year there while in college, and I could not WAIT to get out.

Anonymous | 5:37 p.m. July 7, 2008

Lived in stifling, backwards Utah for over 20 years. Almost lost my [bleeping] mind.
Now live in beautiful, liberal California (not theh overcrowded parts)where the terrific people don't give a flying [bleep] what ward you belong to.

I believe I've died and gone to heaven!

Thank you, God.

jdegaston | 12:50 a.m. July 8, 2008

Low voter turnout is because there was very little to vote on. No other party had any primaries except for the Republicans, and they had very few.

And for the complaint about the primary being "closed" to others besides Republicans. This is just silliness. If the Democrats or Libertarians or Constitutionalists were willing to have candidates face off in primaries and get the name recognition that would bring, we would have a higher voter turnout. Why should non-Republicans choose the Republican candidates. If you do not want to be a Republican, ask your party to have primary elections also.

So, few races and few people go vote. It makes perfect sense. When we have issues that the public considers important such as Vouchers or Mitt Romney, the voter turnout is very high. Give us more to vote on, and we shall go vote.

Jackie de Gaston

Hello, civic duty calling! | 7:22 a.m. July 8, 2008

It doesn't matter whether there is little to vote on, the candidates aren't the greatest, or any other rationalization. Voting is a civic duty. I hope the same people who don't take the time to vote aren't the same people who whipped out their flags after 9/11 and "acted" patriotic. And girls - we've only been able to vote since 1920, and some other women had to work REALLY hard to secure that right. There is no good excuse not to vote!

Algonquin | 8:41 a.m. July 8, 2008

Ok, let's look at Sherrie Swensen's logic. Most people do not vote already... so let's make it worse by making it even easier for more people to register to vote, who will also not bother to vote. People must have a desire in the first place to participate, making it easier and easier will not increase participation.

Same day registration would be a disaster as everyone waits till the last minute to register... on election day of course.

Delbert | 10:15 a.m. July 9, 2008

Oh my, those anti-mormons are angry again. How dare those mormons vote for conservative canidates. Shocking I tell ya!!! Do you suppose liberals vote for liberal canidates? Naaa, surely liberals vote for conservative canidates just to show how open minded they are. You know you are just a bunch of sheep unless you vote how the liberals want you to.

Paul in MD | 2:14 p.m. July 9, 2008

To Obama Republican @ 2:30 7/7

How ya doin', bud? No, I'm not following you around the DN site, but I think you missed HB Lee's point. Reading the quote you provided, I think he was saying that a good LDS should approach voting with a great deal of gravity and responsibility. We are supposed to choose leaders who will "enforce the laws of the same; and that such as will administer the law in equity and justice should be sought for and upheld by the voice of the people if a republic, or the will of the sovereign."

He is tasking us with choosing leaders who will be equitable, enforce the laws, write equitable laws, and do their jobs with justice in mind. Granted, in today's political climate that is very difficult to do. Every day there are more politicians' bad behavior coming to light.

I know exactly why I vote Republican, and I think about it quite a bit. The Republican candidates aren't perfect, none of us are. But their ideals and statements are generally more in line with my values and beliefs than the Democrats'.

My reasons for not voting..... | 6:47 p.m. July 9, 2008

I'm 27, I don't vote, and the reasons I don't vote are simple.....

#1 I don't follow local races closely enough to care about who wins and who does not. If you asked me what the difference on the issues were between Chris Cannon and Jason Chaffiz(?) I wouldn't be able to tell you, and I read the paper, watch the news, etc.

#2 It's not convenient enough for me. I would vote if I could do it online or through the mail, but to go to a school, wait in line and fill out a ballot is too much hassle for me when I'm juggling work, wife, kids and golf and other things that are WAY more important to me.

#3 I just don't care. I know people fought wars and died for my right to vote but I really don't care if one right winged conservative wins versus a left winged liberal, in the end it doesn't really matter. I'm still going to deal with the same problems and issues 10 years from today that I'm dealing with now. I have almost no confidence and faith in polititians that in the end it doesn't really matter

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