Leftovers are great unless we are talking about elections

“Primary votes order off the menu. General election votes take home the leftovers. Skipping the primary election lets someone else decide what we eat.” This quote was shared on Wyoming journalist Gail Symons’ Facebook page. It originated from the Facebook page of the League of Women Voters of Ohio. 

Oh, how true it is. Those who vote in the primary decide who is on the “menu” in the general election. Two years ago, 27% of eligible voters cast ballots in the primary and they dictated who was on the ballot for the general. That is like going out to eat and one person ordering what the four of you are having for a meal. You have no choice. No input. Then you get the leftovers from the meal and must eat it. Doesn’t matter if you like the meal or not.  How many of us would agree to that?  

This is what we are doing when we don’t vote in the primary. We are saying someone else gets to choose what we eat. In the case of elections, the meal will be the same entrée for two to four years depending on the term of the office.  If you choose not to “order,” do you really have the right to complain about what is served?  

Which voter are you?
1. Registered to vote and does.
2. Registered to vote, but doesn’t. 3. Not registered to vote. Only Voter No. 1 gets to decide what Voter Nos. 2 and 3 eat. 

For now, registering to vote in Wyoming is fairly easy for most people. Bring your Wyoming driver’s or Wyoming ID card to the county clerk’s office or to a town office. On election day, bring those same items to the polls. The poll workers will check you in from the voter rolls when you show them your ID. Those already registered simply need to bring their ID on election day to the polls. If you don’t have a Wyoming driver’s license or ID, go to the clerk’s office at the courthouse. 

The primary election is Aug. 18. Don’t let anyone else tell you what you have to eat.