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If I remember this right from my elementary-school social studies class, the point of a democracy is that everyone has a say. One person = one vote. When we need to make a big decision—like who will be our leader—we call an election, everyone gets to cast his or her vote, and at the end there is a winner. It's called "the will of the people."
That's the theory, anyway.
But here's the ugly reality: despite the best efforts of Rock the Vote, Get Out the Vote, and a boatload of voting advocates of every stripe, not many people vote in L.A. As in: almost no one. The current mayor was chosen for office by 222,300 people, about 6% of the population of Los Angeles. Just six people out of one hundred bothered to make a decision that effects all of us. Not exactly the will of the people.
What gives, Angelenos?
That will be the topic of conversation this week when Zócalo Public Square comes to Grand Central Market for "Why Won't Angelenos Vote?," a public conversation moderated by Zócalo's California editor, Joe Mathews.
The event is FREE and open to the public.
Why Won't Angelenos Vote?
A Zócalo/UCLA Event
Moderated by Joe Mathews, California Editor, Zócalo Public Square
Grand Central Market
Thursday, December 5
7:30PM
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