Matt Fecteau: Rhode Island’s Primary Problem
Monday, September 19, 2016
Voters simply aren’t participating in Rhode Island’s important primary elections. Consequently, we cannot complain about critical issues such as high taxes when we don’t express ourselves at the ballot box.
This past primary, September 13th 2016, voter turnout was depressingly low. Less than 10% of registered voters turned out across the state to vote. As a result, only a couple thousand voters had a pronounced influence over the direction of our state.
That being said, we must be content with such backroom deals such as 38 Studios, and the toll plan because we didn’t vote in large numbers (at least my take away). We need not to complain on the radio airways or write angry OPEDs anymore. Why waste the energy? We had our chance to change the direction of our state.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTA wide array of reasons exists not to vote. Sometimes people don’t have the time. Others are disillusioned with the political process. However, how can we say we live in a democracy with such abysmal voter turnout? Do all these reasons exist for each person who did not to vote? Likely not.
The primary is Rhode Island’s most important election too. Whoever is elected in the primary is the only likely candidate during the general. During the Rhode Island Senate district eight race, located in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, I made my case talking to just a couple thousand voters out of a total of some 14,000 registered Democrat and unaffiliated voters (note, unaffiliated can vote in the primary election) in the district – disappointing to say the least.
The youth vote was especially low. Millennial voters or those voters between the age of 18 to 34 simply didn’t vote. They turned out in such infinitesimal numbers, I could have talked to all of them in a small classroom.
While I attempted to engage millennials via social media and other avenues, this strategy failed because of the aforementioned low millennial voter turnout. This is at a time when millennials face sky-high unemployment numbers, are increasingly living at home with their parents, and have ballooning student debt levels. If anyone has an incentive to vote, they do.
As a state Senate candidate, because of such a lack of interest, my consultants recommended I talk to those most likely to turn out to vote, senior citizens. Issues such as student debt took a backseat. Medicaid cuts, and the bus fares took precedent. I would have liked to push other issues front and center, but without the voter interest, how could I?
The typically argument I’ve heard during the campaign trail was “I will vote in the general, not the primary.” Unfortunately, in dark-blue states like Rhode Island, the primary election might as well be the general election. The candidates in all races are mostly all Democrats. This is something we have yet to accept.
While I was a candidate for state Senate, I am also a veteran who lost friends fighting for our freedom. I have no issue losing an election if people are out there exercising their freedom at the ballot box. If you don’t like me, please vote against me, but more importantly, vote. We owe our troops that much. They fought for our freedom, that same freedom we take for granted each election.
Matt Fecteau ([email protected]) of Pawtucket, Rhode Island lost to state Senator Jamie Doyle in 2016’s Democratic primary. He is a former White House national security intern and Iraq war veteran.
Related Slideshow: 2016 Primaries—Winners and Losers
Related Articles
- Fecteau: The Myth of Rhode Island’s Progressive Democrat Problem
- Fecteau: Until We Act on Gun Violence, Expect More Ungodly Death
- Fecteau: Chafee’s Idiotic Decision and the Absurdity of RI Politics
- Fecteau: Back to Iraq
- Fecteau: A Deployed Veteran’s Reflection
- Fecteau: Want to Help Save Rhode Island? Demand More Syrian Refugees
- Fecteau: An American Soldier’s Hope for Rhode Island
- Fecteau: Guns are the Problem
- Fecteau: The Providence Journal Editorial Board is Wrong on the Iran Deal
- Fecteau: Does Obama’s Foreign Policy Jeopardize Our National Security?
- Fecteau: Is Obama or Bush to blame for the Rise of Islamic State?
- Fecteau: Should RI Still Host the Syrian Refugees? Absolutely
- Matt Fecteau: Playing into the Islamic State’s Hands
- Fecteau: Biden is Wrong on Rhodeworks
- Fecteau: RI Democratic Party State Chair McNamara Should Resign
- Fecteau: A Morbid Milestone
- Fecteau: Why Doesn’t President Obama Say Radical Islam?
- Fecteau: Orlando Was Just the Beginning
- Guest MINDSETTER™ Russell Taub: Matt Fecteau Misses an Important Point
- Fecteau: Does State Rep. Macbeth Stand A Chance Against Cicilline? No With Caveats
- Matt Fecteau: Close the Gun Show Loophole
- Matt Fecteau: Oil Prices Alone Are Not Killing Your 401(k)
- Matt Fecteau: Honoring “Buddy” Cianci’s Legacy
- Matt Fecteau: Dear Trump Supporters, This isn’t a Reality TV Show
- Meet the Candidates: Matt Fecteau
