Listen to this note:
One vote can make the difference, especially if an election with thousands of votes ends in an exact tie.
It was just five votes that made the difference in the primary elections to represent California's 16th congressional district.
In the primary elections, the two candidates with the most votes advance to the November elections. Former San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo received the most votes. California Assemblyman Evan Low and Santa Clara County Supervisor Joe Simitan tied for second with 30,249 votes each.
After a second recount of the votes, the results determined that only Low would join Liccardo on the ballot in the November runoff election.
Although more than 30,000 votes were cast, the primary election was decided by only a few votes. Although many elections are not very close, election predictions change frequently. There is no exact way to predict the results until the people vote.
County and city elections give voters the opportunity to give their opinion on local politics and candidates who can have the greatest effects on everyday life. Additionally, these elections are often decided by much smaller margins than state or federal elections, making representation through voting even more important.
The power of the vote goes beyond elections. Even if a candidate or measure you support doesn't win the election, your support will affect what happens next. The votes a candidate gets can inspire him to try again. Proposals can be modified and resubmitted.
It's easy to think that your vote doesn't matter. But the only way a vote doesn't really matter is when there is no vote.
More from the author: Voting requires communication to understand
