Should a WA law require you to vote? It’s a shame the idea is being considered | Opinion
With new high schools and levies on the line, Tri-City school supporters are pushing hard to remind citizens to return their ballots by next Tuesday’s election deadline.
But what if, in the future, such herculean efforts were no longer necessary?
What if voting in Washington state was compulsory like serving on a jury or paying taxes?
It’s an intriguing idea that is floating through the Washington Legislature right now.
Senate Bill 5290 and House Bill 1220 would legally require every citizen eligible to vote to cast a ballot during elections.
The ballots could be kept blank or maybe even marked up with doodles, but they would need to be returned nonetheless.
The proposed legislation provides a way for people to opt out of the requirement, and there’s no penalty if people don’t comply.
But still, would compulsory voting boost participation? That’s the question.
For about a century, Australia has legally required its citizens to vote and the country has one of the highest participation rates in the world. For decades, it’s hovered at 90% or above.
Australia makes sure Election Day falls on a weekend and it’s a day of celebration and backyard get-togethers. The country also imposes a financial penalty for not voting, which probably explains why the vast majority don’t skip this civic duty.
On the contrary, in the United States voter apathy is widespread.
People should want to vote. They should cherish this right that others around the globe do not have.
Instead, too many take voting for granted and don’t bother. And that’s why some Washington state lawmakers are now looking for a legislative fix.
While voter turnout is usually fairly high when we are picking our next U.S. president, it’s historically abysmal when we are voting in local elections.
Last year when Tri-City school districts ran maintenance and operations levies, voter turnout in Franklin County was a lousy 25.47% and in Benton County it was 29.95%.
Voters failed the levy requests in Kennewick, Prosser and Finley on the first try last February. Then, when school supporters tried again in April — essentially begging the community to step up — voter turnout was even worse at 29.89% in Benton County.
Prosser managed to get its levy passed on its second attempt. But Kennewick and Finley did not, and now the current election is crucial.
The Kennewick school district has managed to get through this school year by letting positions go unfilled, dipping into reserves and by using COVID relief money.
However, the COVID money won’t last. It was meant to help offset costs associated with the pandemic and was never meant to be part of the ongoing operating budget.
If the school levies fail again, tougher decisions will be made and popular programs are bound to be cut.
And in Kennewick, the idea to put law enforcement officers in every school won’t happen without the levy passing.
Voters in Pasco and Richland fortunately approved their school maintenance and operation levies last year, but both districts desperately need a third high school.
Pasco is asking voters to approve a 21-year capital improvement bond that would raise $195.5 million for a new, 2,000-seat high school, a 600-seat innovative high school similar to Delta High, and other facility improvements.
Richland is taking a two-step approach. This year, school officials are asking voters to approve a $23 million capital improvement levy which would begin construction design and pre-work for a new high school, as well as improve security throughout the district.
If that request is approved, then Richland voters would be asked later to finance construction of the third high school through a bond measure.
We doubt there is enough support to force voting requirements this year, so Senate Bill 5290 and House Bill 1220 are serving as conversation starters more than anything else.
Still, it’s an interesting conversation.
In the meantime, remember to vote by Tuesday. It’s not required, but it’s the right thing to do.
