facebook-pixel

Letter: Prop 4 may not be as exciting as medical marijuana but it is at least as important

FILE - In this Feb. 16, 2016, file photo, Republican state Sens. Dan Soucek, left, and Brent Jackson, right, review historical maps during The Senate Redistricting Committee for the 2016 Extra Session in the Legislative Office Building at the N.C. General Assembly, in Raleigh, N.C. Federal judges ruled Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2018, that North Carolina's congressional district map drawn by legislative Republicans is illegally gerrymandered because of excessive partisanship that gave GOP a rock-solid advantage for most seats and must quickly be redone. (Corey Lowenstein/The News & Observer via AP, File)

Tuesday is Election Day and, for a midterm election, it’s a big one!

In Utah, most of the election coverage is dedicated to medicinal marijuana. Yet in a time when dark money’s influence continues to grow, the U.S. Congress’ approval rating has hovered around 20 percent for a decade, and 100 million eligible Americans sat out the 2016 presidential election. Our democracy is in peril.

Fortunately, as Utahns, we have the power to take a big step in standing up for democracy and demanding that our voices count. Gerrymandering is one of many toxic tools being used (by both parties) across the country to dilute our representative government, which in turn reinforces voter apathy and diminishes faith in our institutions.

Proposition 4 may not be as exciting as medical marijuana or as topical as President Trump and his battle with blue America, but it is at least as important. If there is one issue that can unite our divided nation, it is to raise our voices in support of having our vote count by supporting Prop 4.

Jared Lounsbury-Decker, St. George

Submit a letter to the editor

Support free news for Utah

sltrib.com is now free to access — no subscription required. We made this decision because we believe access to trustworthy, independent news shouldn’t depend on what you can afford — especially as misinformation and AI-generated content continue to rise.

Free to read doesn’t mean free to produce. Our reporters show up every day to ask hard questions and hold powerful institutions to account. That work takes resources. As a nonprofit newsroom, we rely on support from people who believe it matters. Make a donation today to fund local news that serves Utah communities.

You can help us bring more local news to more communities today.