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September 19, 2003 |
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| Downs
Center for Indiana Politics trying to reverse voter apathy |
“A democratically elected
government that is based on the votes of fewer
than 40 percent of its eligible voters is a
government that is in danger of no longer representing
the citizenry.”
—Andrew Downs, director
of the Mike Downs Center for Indiana Politics,
IPFW campus
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Did you know that in 2002, statewide voter turnout was
only 38 percent? Or that in Allen County, home of the
Mike Downs Center for Indiana Politics, voter turnout
was 32 percent. Those figures come right from the Indiana
Secretary of State. In fact, voter apathy is so bad that
the turnout for the municipal primary elections in Allen
County this year was only 12 percent; the lowest it’s
been in at least 40 years.
Elsewhere across Indiana, primary elections were canceled
because there were no contested races. That can mean several
things: everyone thinks the person in office is doing
just fine; no one thinks they can beat the incumbent;
or nobody cares who makes the decisions that affect their
everyday lives.
“A democratically elected government that is based
on the votes of fewer than 40 percent of its eligible
voters is a government that is in danger of no longer
representing the citizenry,” said Andrew Downs,
director of the Mike Downs Center for Indiana Politics
on the IPFW campus. “A community without competition
in its elections is in danger of becoming a vehicle for
the few and not the many.”
In an effort to get people interested and engaged in the
political process, the center has launched a voter education
program. Downs said the center has been contacted by several
people and organizations which have asked for programs
specifically designed for their constituents to be presented.
The Mike Downs Center for Indiana Politics is a non-partisan
organization devoted to helping the people of Indiana
understand the role of government, politics and civic
involvement in their daily lives. By doing this, the center
hopes to increase knowledge, understanding, and participation
in public and political processes.
Organizations interested in scheduling a workshop are
invited to call Downs at 260-481-6691
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IU Home Pages + 400 E. 7th Street. Bloomington, IN 47405 + Phone: (812) 855-6494
Publication Date: August 15, 2003 + Comments: homepgs@indiana.edu
Copyright ©2003, The Trustees of Indiana University
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