51% is a great grade!

Normally when we see 51% we immediately think summer school and that one bad year in 7th grade English. However, when you see 51% in relation to voting it is an incredibly good turn out.
We live in a society that has a general apathy about the voting process. We all agree that we have, and will fight for, the right to vote but when it comes to following through on it we are a little lazy. I am reminded of the words of Thomas Jefferson who said "My God! How little do my countrymen know what precious blessings they are in possession of, and which no other people on earth enjoy!" This is how I feel about the opportunity we have to vote and to decide our own leadership and government.
In off year elections, like this one, about 37% of registered voters actually vote. In Presidential election years we boost it up to about 50%. This year we had a record turn out for an off year with 51.86% of Duvall's voters actually voting. This is a feat worth celebrating! Now before we all get a big head the real prize this year goes to our neighbors in Skykomish. They had a 68% voter turnout.
When I saw these numbers I was surprised and thrilled. I then began to wonder what was different this year. I can think of two reasons for the change:
1. The citizens saw some exciting candidates and felt a desire to get out and have their opinions heard. I think that this is true of many of the candidates on this years ballot.
2. The citizens are starting to realize the importance of local politics and they wanted to send a message to their elected representatives.
I think its a little bit of both. Either way I am just glad that my fellow citizens are coming out to vote and I should not worry about why. The phrase "don't look a gift horse in the mouth" comes to mind right now. While I am not entirely sure what it means or what horses have to do with presents, it just sort of seems like a Duvall thing to say.
Thanks everybody for making my day.