THE PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
Down to the wire in an election year was an interesting and exciting time to become a copresident for our League. Twenty percent plus of our League members presented candidates' forums, talked about the propositions to groups, or worked at the polls. Thanks to all of you, especially our Voters Service Director.
As I have since I joined the League, I worked the last shift at the polls. The usual early evening rush was absent. In their eagerness to vote, people had lined up down the block before the precincts even opened. Every voter wanted his or her "I VOTED!" sticker this year. Each was proud to have voted.
Voters believed that one vote mattered in this election. In Monterey County over 70 percent of our eligible voters went to the polls; nationally the turnout was almost 60 percent. Democratic turnout increased by nearly three times over the 2000 presidential election in battleground states, although GOP turnout increases were roughly equal in non-battleground and battleground states.
My niece called me early this fall, confused and dismayed by her first presidential election. I referred her to Ohio's Smart Voter and told her to rank her most important issues and find out the candidates' positions on those issues.
Smart Voter empowered my niece--she volunteered for one of the candidate's campaigns in Ohio. It was a transforming experience, and she was excited and engaged by the process. She even heard "her" candidate speak twice.
Not all voters were so lucky. This was the second consecutive presidential election in which almost all campaign activity was limited to no more than 18 states, leaving 32 states and the District of Columbia without any visible signs of campaign activity. This concentration is not good for the nation as a whole and is certainly not in the interest of the states and regions that see no campaign activity.
Then there's the money. President Bush and Senator Kerry raised a total of nearly half a billion dollars in private contributions during the presidential primary season. Both of them turned down the $74.6 million they could have received in government matching funds during the primaries--the legal ceilings for campaign spending are simply too low and inflexible.
$880.5 million was contributed to the candidates for this election, 166% more than the 2000 Election. As the June 2004 National Voter said about presidential public funding, "Those who believe the system is worth saving should start thinking about the alternatives, soon."
This election I was elated by my personal experience--our League's work, my work at the polls, and my niece's enthusiasm. But the campaign and election processes were discouraging. There are certainly many opportunities for the League to use their influence to improve our democracy.
Nancy Green and I wish you a happy holiday season filled with love and family. See you in January!
--Jeanne B. Melaugh, Copresident, LWVMP
