(This is part of a series of letters to the editor on the question, “How can we better engage younger voters?” The Pacific Daily News and the Judiciary of Guam’s Law Month organizing committee have teamed up to help advance the national Law Day theme for 2024, “Voices of Democracy,” which underscores the importance of citizen participation in a democratic society.)
Voices of Democracy is such a timely theme for this year’s Law Month celebration. The Guam electorate has expressed its political views and wishes by voting in elections since 1950.
This year, the United States celebrates the 250th year of this important right of each and every eligible American citizen. The dynamic of our island society has changed so much in 74 years. The population in post-war Guam was nearly 62,000 people. Today, about 173,000 people call Guam home.
There were 5,415 registered voters that hit the polls in 1950 — an 84% voter turnout that elected the first Guam Legislature. The averages over the next six decades were as high.
Just two years ago, the second highest number of residents registered to vote in our history elected a new governor, senators and non-partisan positions.
But with all the hype, candidate waves, radio and tv ads and social media posts hoping to excite the electorate, just 56% of voters actually showed up and cast a ballot in 2022.
It is a continuation of a disturbing trend that started in the 2014 Guam elections-low voter turnout.
Did our people just forget to vote? What led to the decisions to not make it out and cast a ballot on election day? Apathy?
In the days, weeks and months since, I have talked with many in our villages who told me that they feared that a vote on their political views and wishes just did not matter in the direction of Guam. To them, elected officials seem to have stopped listening to the voting public.
As a society, we all need to remind all voters, young and old, that this is an important right that we all must take seriously.
It starts at home. As a parent, my wife and I have spent much time over the years discussing the issues facing Guam and America with our five kids. To us, the annual celebration of Law Day and Law Month seems to be multiple days and months throughout the year, talking up the law or the impacts of public policy.
This is surely not unique to my family. Many dinner tables and back kitchens from Yigo to Malesso’ engage in this political talk on a daily basis. Plenty of listening.
Funny that we as a community can share a view or two on the state of healthcare, our island schools or the growing crime problems in our villages, but we are not sharing either our acceptance or displeasure in the voting booth every two and four years. We all must reverse this trend.
Talk up the issues. Find out where folks stand. Listen. Then vote. Be a voice for our island democracy.
Thank you, Guam voters, in advance for casting that vote — your views and wishes matter so much.