July, 2005
In each of our lives we are constantly faced with choices, the choice between spending time with our families or putting in those extra hours catching up at work, the choice between putting your extra money in savings or blowing it all on that great vacation. Sometimes, the amount of choices I have are enough to make me want to stay in bed with the covers pulled over my head. I just don't want to get up and start making decisions...after all more sleep will automatically lead to a better decision....Right?
There are times that reluctance to make a choice stems from the complexity of issues that we have in front of us. Take for example, the upcoming Special Election on November 8th. I was on a conference call the other day with other disability advocates from across the State. We were moving quite swiftly through our agenda until we came to the Special Election Planning item.
We began to discuss various methods for educating the community about the propositions that have qualified for the ballot, and strategies for motivating people to register to vote. Slowly, question after question came up. What positions would we be taking on each of the ballot measures? Who would be responsible for leading our efforts? How many of our resources should we dedicate to the Special Election and what other priorities would have to take a back seat to it? The only thing we were sure about is that choice after choice, must be made and quickly at that.
You may be asking yourself what do those choices have to do with me? Well, just as you have the choice to wait for one group or another to motivate you to vote, you have the choice to educate and motivate yourself. Ask yourself these questions... Am I registered to vote? Do I know what propositions are on the ballot? How will they affect me? Where can I find more information?
Justin Dart, one of the foremost leaders in the disability movement said "Vote like your life depends on it, because it does." I've used that quote before and I'll keep using it because I think it demonstrates the importance of making the choice to educate yourself and participate in the political process that impacts you.
To register to vote in Monterey County call the Monterey County Elections Department toll free at 1-866-887-9274.