SRQ Daily Columnist Diana Hamilton, after living 35 years in Sarasota, labels herself a pragmatic optimist with radical humorist tendencies and a new found resistance to ice cream.

The United States in 1965 began sending troops to fight against the North Vietnamese and by 1969 young men—boys really—were, based on a lottery system, being drafted straight out of high school, even college. At the time no one under the age of 21 could vote in the democracy they were being sent to die to defend.  But then in March of 1971 the Constitution of the United States of America was amended to allow 18-year-olds the right to vote.  I was a 19-year-old sophomore at the University of Tennessee and as quickly as a voter registration line formed in the Student Center I was in it.

“Old enough to fight! Old enough to vote!” was the rallying cry that got me my first voter card, and as I raised my hand swearing to uphold the Constitution that day I knew this change, this 26^thAmendment, had passed not because we on line in that safe place had earned it or maybe even deserved it, but they did. And it is to them, those thousands of young others slogging through the mud of Vietnam, that each time I go to vote I remember to pray a quiet thank you.

Here in the City of Sarasota, our City Commission elections are held not in November with it’s 75-percent turnout but every two years in March. These March elections are uninspiring, nearly invisible. They cost $129,000, and even in a City packed with folks—Baby Boomers—who are survivors of that time when voting cost so much, turnout is rarely above 20 percent, closer to 15 percent.

So, why hold the voting in March? Good question.

Sarasota has for some time been held in thrall to a particular crowd who have managed like junkyard cats hunkered over a piece of stinky fish to fight any change that might undermine their system and that especially includes moving the elections. Savings of a million dollars over 12 years and guaranteed increased turnout falls flat against brilliant arguments such “it’s too hot for candidates to campaign then” or “no one lives here in November.” And then there’s my favorite, ”The Commission elections will be lost at the bottom of the ballot.” Hmmm really?  In November 2012 there were 10 not-all-that exciting City Charter amendments presented at the end of a four-page ballot. Of the 70 percent of city voters who voted that November, 85 percent of them managed to vote all the way to the very last issue on the ballot. No lie, it’s on the public record.

Those who have the power want to keep their power. Some folks may be okay with that, however around 2,000 City voters signed petitions past year to revise the City Charter weren’t. One of the revisions, and by far the easiest sell door–to-door amongst the four changes being suggested, was moving the vote. It's common sense. We were raised voting in November. It’s in the Constitution, just like that other Amendment that gave me and you and the rest of us Boomers the right and responsibility to vote when we were 18.

We used to have the courage to fight for democracy. What happened? I urge you to vote this March for candidates who are not afraid to take a stand for commonsense and progress. Ask the question “Will you support moving the vote?” And then vote for that person who will.

SRQ Daily Columnist Diana Hamilton, after living 35 years in Sarasota, labels herself a pragmatic optimist with radical humorist tendencies and a new found resistance to ice cream.