People fought and died so you can vote, so do it

By Professor Josh Douglas

To encourage voting this year, Professor Josh Douglas has penned an Op-Ed for the Lexington Herald-Leader that explains the importance of heading to the polls.  

Just over 50 years ago, President Lyndon Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act, which had the effect of providing robust protection to the right to vote, particularly for racial minorities.

Most people agree that voting is the most important right we enjoy. All other freedoms stem from voting in a free and fair democracy. People fought, and died, to secure the right to vote.

This history makes it even more shameful that only a quarter of Kentuckians in 2011 took advantage of that precious right. There was a 28 percent turnout in the last off-year election, the last time we chose our governor and other statewide constitutional officers.

That is, simply put, abysmal.

Although 28 percent is in line with historical turnout patterns in off-year elections in America, we should not settle for it. We can do better.

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