The True Spirit of Patriotism Resides in the Voting Booth

SACRAMENTO — People say they are more patriotic now. But fewer people are voting.

It doesn’t track.

Supporting America means supporting democracy. That means voting. Freedoms aren’t only preserved on the battlefield. They’re also preserved through the ballot box.

You’d think patriots would do more than wave flags; they’d exercise their freedom to participate in democracy.

End of lecture.

What grabbed my attention was a recent statewide survey by pollster Mark Baldassare for the Public Policy Institute of California.

The poll found that of the California citizens who are least likely to vote on Nov. 5, roughly three-fourths said they planned to “display the flag or other American symbols” on the one-year anniversary of the terrorist attacks.

“I’ve been looking at what effect 9/11 has had on voting around the nation,” Baldassare says, “and the answer is none.”

In California’s March primary, only 24.6% of voting-age citizens turned out. A historically low 34.6% of registered voters cast ballots.

Later, Baldassare polled the Central Valley. Two-thirds of the nonvoters reported feeling “more patriotic” after the attacks; 42% “a lot” more.

“Patriotism didn’t seem to make a difference in voting,” the pollster notes.

Political consultant Gale Kaufman agrees:

“In focus groups, there’s a real ambivalence about this particular election cycle that I haven’t seen before. As much as there’s a feeling of patriotism, people say, ‘There are really more important things I can do with my patriotism. Something in my community. Just get up and go to work.’

“I can’t explain it. People are feeling much more patriotic. But their concern about the country doesn’t translate into paying more attention to voting.”

Offhand, you might think people don’t vote because they’re unhappy with their choices. But many nonvoters don’t even bother to find out what their choices are.

The other day I phoned some of the nonvoters Baldassare surveyed after the primary. All had reported becoming more patriotic.

“I just vote when there’s a presidential election,” said Bonnie Mendoza, 21, of Dinuba. She’s a mother of two and a community college student. “I don’t have time to keep up with everything. With two small kids, I really don’t get to watch TV.”

David Cataline, a Modesto delivery driver, was at a Dodgers-Giants game in San Francisco, but a stepson explained his ballot boycott. “He’s disgusted with politicians. You can’t trust them,” said Mark Smith, echoing a familiar refrain. “And politicians are just using 9/11 to get into office.”

Frances Everett, 22, said, “I have a very busy life. I live way out in the country”--in Shingletown, east of Redding.

I asked how she squares increased patriotism with not voting. “You have to have certain priorities in life,” she replied, “and sometimes you have to do things that need to be done right now.

“I work on a llama ranch. We have 45 head.”

The most noteworthy nonvoter, of course, is the Republican nominee for governor, Bill Simon. The investor missed several elections before he became a politician. He has admitted the mistake and apologized.

There are moves underway to make voting more interesting and more convenient.

The Legislature has passed a bill to return the statewide primary to June, the traditional time in California. March voting was ludicrously premature. Every four years, there’d be a separate early presidential primary.

The bill, by Sen. Ross Johnson (R-Irvine), is on Gov. Gray Davis’ desk. The governor has not signaled a position. But his political guru, Garry South, likes the idea--”speaking for myself.”

“Holding a state primary in March is like trying to sell Halloween costumes in May,” South says.

Johnson asserts that the closer the primary is to the general election, the more likely it is that people will become interested. He notes that 11 states, including New York, held primaries Tuesday.

There’s also Proposition 52 on the November ballot. That would allow citizens to register to vote at their polling place on election day. Now, the registration deadline is two weeks before the election. Polls point to a possibly close vote on this measure.

On Davis’ desk is a bill by Assemblywoman Jenny Oropeza (D-Long Beach) that would permit new citizens to register right up until election day.

Voters in March approved a $200-million bond issue to move California into touch-screen voting by 2004.

You can now obtain permanent status as an absentee voter.

The goal in all this is to make voting almost as easy as flying a flag from the roof of a speeding car. It always has been more important.