It has been said that those who don't participate in the election process wind up being governed by those they don't like but it does seem like nonparticipation abrogates the strength of later complaints.

We all owe it to ourselves and our fellows to get out and vote this coming Tuesday. It never ceases to amaze me how many citizens fail to exercise their franchise. When you consider how many patriots have died to assure and keep this right for the rest of us, it is more than too bad, it is a shame.

Every year, true as clockwork, a few people visit our office to lodge grievances against an elected official when they failed to vote in the very election that saw that official take office. Participation is the essence of democracy. Perhaps that is why so many feel they have lost touch with the process - because if they don't go to the polls and "make their mark", they have!

This Tuesday we have a short municipal election for two seats on our five member Town Council. One person will not win but I submit that just by stepping up to the plate all those vying for our vote are winners. Far too few seem willing to serve anymore. Whether it is because they are disinterested or they fear the constant badgering from malcontents is not the issue. What is the point is that every year, fewer and fewer even bother to try. If this trend continues we will soon wind up governed by the pick of less than half our eligible voters truly making "majority rule” a mere term in political science treatises.

I've heard a lot of excuses for not voting: "I don't live here year round so it doesn't matter as much to me”. "I don't like any of the candidates so why should I vote?” "Government is crooked no matter who wins.”

The list goes on and on but when you really think about it they all seem to have a common theme - the reasoning given for not voting is always about what the voter feels personally and this misses the bigger issue of the duty we owe to our fellows to participate so those elected are truly representational. Otherwise, even the vote becomes a special interest game and we have way too much of that mixed in our politics already. To me, it's like serving on a jury. They call it jury duty because that is exactly what it is - a duty we owe to the other citizens to insure they can get a fair trial.

The vote is much the same way only the courts can't find a non-voter in contempt like they can someone who fails to show up for a jury when called. Perhaps if there were more teeth in the voting process the turnout would be better. It's hard to say and I really don't like enforced governmental obligations unless absolutely necessary so I am not calling for penalties, just highlighting the need for greater participation.

Voting is a special privilege and I hope all my fellow Islanders exercise it this coming Tuesday and make their

presence felt by casting a ballot in favor of two candidates they think will do a good job looking out after our public dollars

and setting policy for our

community.

Carl Conley, Ed.