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May 21, 2009 | 02:40 PM
So which is it, Smithtown residents: Do you support the annual school budget but count on others to vote in favor? Have you given up trying to hold back the tide of higher spending and taxes? Or don't you care?
The percentage of registered voters who participate in the annual round of budget votes and Board of Education trustee elections across Long Island has always been pitiful, but frankly it has become embarrassing. And Smithtown is leading the way.
Last year only 5,072 votes were cast by Smithtown School District's approximately 38,000 registered voters. This year? 4,673. A little more than 12 percent of eligible voters participated in the democratic process.
Let's address each of the possible nonvoters we've identified. First, the nonvoting supporter: These persons would just as soon let the other guy do it. They claim to support the schools, the staff and programs, but not enough to take 20 minutes out of their busy lives to express that support.
The residents who have given up fighting for reduced spending and lower taxes? We suppose they have become so discouraged that they no longer even bother to voice their concerns by casting a ballot against a plan they oppose.
Those who couldn't care less either way? We guess there are those in the neighborhood who have incomes so large that property taxes are irrelevant, but we don't think that makes up any significant portion of the Smithtown electorate. We suppose there may be a few local residents that don't think the school system turning out educated young people to become the next generation of Americans is all that important. But again, logic says that number must be very small.
Who else is it that lives in Smithtown — indeed, in America — but doesn't care enough about its future to vote either way? We are at a loss to define who these people are. We'd ask that they write the paper and explain their indifference, but we expect persons who won't take the time to support local democracy are entirely unlikely to take the time to jot down a few words explaining why not.
Clearly the first two categories of nonvoters are doing a disservice to themselves. The third? Maybe those who do care should be grateful that those who are apathetic stay away from the polls. After all, if they don't care they are undoubtedly ill prepared to cast an informed ballot either way.
Citizenship is a participatory sport.
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