Letters: The causes of low voter turnout remain a mystery

Voter turnout in California's June 2 primary remains low despite voters choosing a new governor for the first time in eight years and deciding competitive congressional races. The high-stakes election, which will shape state and national policy for years, has not generated the expected participation.

Getting your Trinity Audio //trinityaudio.ai player ready... Submit your letter to the editor via this form. Read more Letters to the Editor. Causes of low voter turnout remain mystery Re: “ Experts expect low voter turnout https://www.ocregister.com/2026/05/30/what-low-voter-turnout-in-california-means-or-not-for-june-2-primary/ ” Page A1, May 31 . The article on low voter turnout seemed to overlook the significance of this election. On Tuesday, Californians were choosing a new governor for the first time in eight years, weighing competitive congressional races and helping shape the future direction of both state and national politics. Low turnout is certainly worth examining, but the story framed this election as though voters had little reason to pay attention. The more compelling question is why participation appears sluggish despite the high stakes. A crowded ballot, vote-by-mail habits and voter uncertainty may all play a role. But this is hardly a routine election. Californians are making decisions that will affect public policy, representation and governance for years to come. The importance of an election is not measured by turnout alone. Alex McMurray Castro Valley Examples show nation tearing itself apart Re: “ Man gets jail term for accosting protesters https://www.mercurynews.com/2026/05/28/peninsula-man-sentenced-to-jail-for-accosting-pro-palestinian-protesters/ ” Page B4, May 31 . A local man who spit in someone’s face and uttered death threats will spend a month in jail. In New Jersey, a Delany disruptor actually bit an officer, drew blood, and threatened to kill the officer’s family. I wonder how much time this man will spend in jail. These ugly actions are not peaceful protests. They are crimes that are eroding and will eventually destroy this country. As Abraham Lincoln said https://presidentlincoln.illinois.gov/Blog/Posts/137/Abraham-Lincoln/2021/7/Did-Lincoln-say-that-Nope-not-this-time/blog-post/ : “If destruction be our lot, we must ourselves be its author and finisher. As a nation of freemen, we must live through all time, or die by suicide.” Julia Lutch Davis Trump’s war on science damages US standing Re: “ Independent science comes to a halt at the EPA https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/27/climate/epa-science-trump-cuts.html ” Page A2, May 29 . I read the article detailing the dismantling of another research agency by the Trump administration. This follows a pattern of undoing much of the progress that, since World War II, made the United States a world leader in so many fields and set a high bar for quality for the world. To better grasp the enormity of the decisions of the Trump administration and its effect on the United States and also the world at large, I urge people to read Michael Lewis’s 2019 book “The Fifth Risk,” where he details the five major risks to the United States. Number five and the most serious is “the failure to maintain,” which he identifies as the failure to maintain our programs and agencies that do so much of the unseen but very necessary work and research that help our society function in the modern world. Roger Wood Fremont Hegseth’s crimes are the same as Castro’s Re: “ U.S. hits another alleged drug vessel, killing 3 https://apnews.com/article/boat-strikes-drug-trafficking-us-military-525f68b1cd8be48a890e4fdc6ea13087 ” Page A4, Associated Press . Donald Trump’s Department of Justice has indicted Raul Castro for his role in the 1996 downing of two light aircraft in the airspace between Cuba and Florida. Three Americans died in the incident with the Cuban military. Pete Hegseth has carried out the killings of more than 200 people in international waters who were suspected of trafficking in narcotics. In America, we do not kill suspected criminals. In America, suspects are brought to justice through our legal system, not through airstrikes. If our DOJ still operated under the rule of law and not the personal whim of Trump, then logic would require that Hegseth be indicted for his ordered killings of suspected drug traffickers in international waters. Castro and Hegseth have committed the same crimes. Jim Phelan Benicia Concord High graduates show world courage The most powerful message at Concord High School’s graduation did not come from the podium. It came from students. When Trustee Tom McDougall was called to speak, students turned their backs and encouraged the audience to make noise. The moment was loud enough that Principal Julene MacKinnon had to restore order before he continued. After his brief remarks, there was barely any applause. This did not happen in a vacuum. At the May 14, 2025, Mount Diablo Unified School District board meeting, McDougall opposed the LGBTQ+ Pride Month resolution, raising objections tied to transgender people and gender-affirming care. Some may call the students’ response disrespectful. I call it courage. They stood up for LGBTQIA+ students and every young person who deserves to feel safe, respected and included. At Concord High, the students led with the courage that adults too often only talk about. Diana Rohini LaVigne San Mateo County Seize the chance to promote gun safety In California, an average of 264 children and teens die https://everystat.org/wp-content/uploads/pdfs/California.pdf by guns every year. That’s why I volunteer with Moms Demand Action, and I hope our community will join others across the country in wearing orange on June 5 for National Gun Violence Awareness Day https://www.sandyhookpromise.org/blog/advocacy-action/gun-violence-awareness-day/ . Wear Orange https://wearorange.org/ is a powerful way to honor lives impacted by gun violence and to call for safer communities. This day is about awareness and action. We all have a role to play in preventing gun violence, whether that means securely storing firearms, talking with friends and neighbors about safety or supporting survivors and local prevention efforts, for example, nonprofits like Youth Alive http://www.youthalive.org . I encourage everyone to take part in Wear Orange Weekend. Debalina Ghosh Fremont