I have written countless times on this blog about how Fishers, Hamilton County and Indiana all have abysmal numbers when it comes to election voter turnout.  Oseye Boyd has impressive credentials as a journalist, having served as editor of the Indianapolis Recorder, Public engagement Editor for the Indianapolis Star and now Editor-In-Chief at the Indy Mirror, a relatively new online local news outlet.

Ms. Boyd has written a piece for the nonprofit local news operation Capital Chronicle, providing her perspective on why Indiana’s voter turnout is so low.  She cites the 2023 Indiana Civile Health Index, which shows Indiana ranking 50th in voter turnout among the 50 states and District of Columbia, and 40th for the number of voters registered in 2022.

The numbers cover the what, but how about the why?  Ms. Boyd goes over the arguments often made as to why one should vote, such as how others died for this right and how your vote counts and does matter.  She argues that, sadly, our vote often doesn’t count for as much as it should.

She correctly cites gerrymandering a major culprit, where competitive general elections are rare.  But she also looks at what she describes as “gatekeeping” by the major political parties.

When an elected leader resigns or passes away during the elected term, it is the political party that gathers a caucus of precinct officials to vote on the person to serve the remainder of that elected term.  Voters outside that realm have no say in that election.

Indiana also has a provision about candidates that may be listed on the ballot in a primary election.  A candidate must have voted in that party’s primary election the last two times that candidate voted in a primary election.  If a candidate doesn’t meet that standard, the chair of the county party decides whether that candidate may be listed on the primary ballot.

Ms. Boyd argues this is a very undemocratic way to run elections.  She cites a specific example in Marion County.

I have no issue with Oseye Boyd’s points here.  It does partially explain why voters do not vote because they believe no clear choices are available.

I would add one more.  Media attention does make a difference.  If voters know more about the candidates from a neutral journalist, as opposed to candidate advertising (which is often not accurate at all), there is a better chance that citizen will choose to cast a ballot.

This is a major reason I started LarryInFishers.com.  Voters need to understand what is going on, not just at election time, but all the time an elected official serves.

An engaged electorate tends to vote.  I fully agree with Oseye Boyd in her assertions that Indiana does not make voting easy or allow all the choices voters likely want in an election.

I am all for ways to increase the voter turnout numbers in Fishers, Hamilton County and the State of Indiana.  Let’s hope people in a position to make a difference are working on solutions.