Holeee Cow!

One of the things that I found inspiring about living in Minnesota was the voter turn out rate in Minnesota. Say what you will about us brain frozen Northerners, we took our right to vote quite seriously! That is why when I was told today about Utah's dismal voter turn out I had to do the research.

Despite the money politicians spend courting Utahns and the constant pleas by ecclesiastical leaders to show good citizenship by voting, Utah now has the nation's worst voting participation rates.

Even more disheartening was this stat....

The Census shows that huge numbers of Utahns do not bother to register to vote.

It said Utah has the third-lowest reported registration rate among the states — 56.8 percent of adult citizens. Nationally, the average is 67.6 percent, about a fifth higher than in Utah.

OK guys - I'm going to climb on a soap box here and I am going to speak especially to the liberals in this state! I know things appear hopeless out here in crimson red Utah. Then again, 14 years ago Minnesota was a deep royal blue! Every Republican that ran for office out there stood about as much chance of being elected as a Democrat does here in Utah...unless that is they ran as an "independent" (sound like a certain Congressman from Utah?). However instead of giving up and staying home, Republicans in Minnesota organized and worked harder than they had ever done before, registered voters and set up a get out the vote organization that is the envy of many states. As a result, Minnesota has roughly 80% voter turn out regularly (2006 was around 78% in a boring off year election). As a result, Minnesota went from royal blue to the purplest of purple states!

There is also a lesson to be had here for Utah Republicans. As Republicans in Minnesota started making electoral gains, the Democrats in Minnesota had to scramble to keep up. They organized and they registered and they ID'd and the drove people to the polls and the did the hard work necessary to keep a tenuous hold on the majority.

A lot of non partisan and bi-partisan work went into the effort. Voter education was a priority - as well as educating young people about voting - is something that Minnesota takes well deserved pride in.

Utah has many things to be very proud of - it's an amazing state with a wealth of riches whether it be people or finances or the grand and glorious landscape that we are fortunate enough to have in our lives every day. However all of that is at risk when the electorate is as disengaged as it is here. You end up with the anti-thesis of what our representative republic is all about.

Please, please people....get registered! You have until October 6 to get registered to vote. Then once you do either sign up to have your ballot mailed to you or make sure you get to the polls on November 4.