Several initiatives on the ballot this year will have a direct impact on you and your family.

Every election cycle, in an effort to impress upon readers the importance of casting their votes, lists circulate that attempt to show the importance of “just one vote.” I have seen many lists over the years. Most have included the following:

• In 1645, one vote gave Oliver Cromwell control of England;
• In 1649, one vote caused Charles I of England to be executed;
• In 1776, one vote gave America the English language instead of German;
• In 1845, one vote brought Texas into the Union;
• In 1875, one vote changed France from a monarchy to a republic;
• In 1923, one vote gave Adolf Hitler leadership of the Nazi Party;
• In 1941, one vote saved Selective Service—just weeks before Pearl Harbor was attacked.

The problem with such lists is that all of the above assertions are simply not true. Don’t believe me, do some research on your own.

What surprises me more than readers believing these “urban legends” is that readers need any encouragement to vote at all. In a non-presidential election, the average turnout of registered voters is about 37 percent. In a presidential election the average jumps to about 53 percent. In either case, the result is that a significant percentage of REGISTERED voters don’t take the time to vote.

Their reasons are many. “I did not have time to vote.” “I did not like any of the candidates.” “The outcome won’t really affect me personally.” “I don’t like politics.” “I…insert your excuse here…”

The election on November 7 will affect you directly. On the ballot are several initiatives that will have a direct impact on you and your family. Consider the following:

• If you participate in the many recreational activities available in Michigan, you will want to support Proposal 06-1, a proposed Constitutional amendment to require that money held in conservation and recreation funds can only be used for their intended purposes.

This would include money collected for state park entrance and camping fees; snowmobile, ORV and boating fees; and hunting and fishing license fees. When I pay camping fees, or register my ORV I expect the money to go back into supporting those programs. This initiative will make sure that happens.

• If you have any interest in the issue of affirmative action, you will want to carefully consider Proposal 06-2, a proposal to ban affirmative action in programs offered by public institutions, including state government, local government, public colleges and universities, community colleges and school districts. If you have watched any of the gubernatorial debates you know there is not much Governor Granholm and Candidate DeVos agree on, but one thing they share the same view on is that Proposal 06-2 is bad for Michigan. They both oppose it.

• How do you feel about hunting mourning doves? Check out Proposal 06-3, a proposal to establish a hunting season for mourning doves.

• If you are concerned that local government can take your property and turn if over to another person for private development, then you will want to support Proposal 06-4, a proposed Constitutional amendment to prohibit government from taking private property by eminent domain for certain private purposes. The Proposal is in direct response to the 2005 decision by the U.S. Supreme Court in Kelo v. City of New London, where the Court said it is okay for land to be condemned and taken through eminent domain and then transferred to a private entity for development. Michigan and 10 other states are addressing the issue through a ballot initiative. The nonpartisan Citizens Research Council of Michigan says that the Michigan initiative will curb any perceived abuses of eminent domain, but will make it more difficult to use eminent domain for legitimate purposes.

• Finally, you will need to carefully consider Proposal 06-5, an initiative that would establish in law certain funding levels for education. The Anderson Economic Group, a Lansing-based consulting firm with expertise in economics, finance, market research and public policy, estimates that the K-16 law would require $335.5 million in additional school aid fund spending in Fiscal Year 2006-07, rising to over $1.8 billion by FY 2015-16. Supporters of the Proposal simply say that it assures adequate funding for all levels of education, which is critical to Michigan’s economic future. If you want to hear from both sides on this issue you can find plenty by going to www.michigank16.org (supports Proposal 5) and www.stop thespendingmandate.com (opposes Proposal 5).

Yes, if you are looking for any motivation at all to vote in the next election, I have given you five. Oh, and there is a gubernatorial election, an Attorney General election, a Secretary of State election, a U.S. Senate race, 15 U.S. House races, 38 Michigan Senate races, 110 Michigan House races, two seats on the State Board of Education, two seats each on the Boards of Trustees for the University of Michigan, Michigan State University, and Wayne State University, two seats on the Michigan Supreme Court, 11 seats on the various Michigan Courts of Appeals, 15 seats on various Michigan Circuit Courts, 17 seats on various Michigan District Courts, 20 seats on various Michigan Probate Courts, and countless city, county, and township positions. Yes, ours is a representative democracy and there are plenty of people who are interested in representing you. I want to make sure they truly do—so I’m voting.

For more information, see the Citizens Research Council of Michigan.