Letter: Be brave and vote this year

I wonder what the voter turnout will look like this November. Most particularly in Vancouver, Clark County, 3rd Congressional District, Washington state and nationwide. Are there enough issues and concerns to motivate more than 35 to 40 percent of registered voters to trouble themselves to exercise the citizens’ primary duty in a democracy? I freely acknowledge that I have the very good fortune and luxury of being comfortably retired and in good health. I have the leisure which most people do not have to examine and thoughtfully fill out my vote-by-mail ballot. A huge benefit for Washington citizens. My parents were both World War II Marine Corps officers; therefore, citizenship was the cultural norm from childhood forward. Despite both being fully employed post-war until their retirements and deaths they voted and volunteered at the polls every election. The Clark County elections supervisors say that this family behavior is a great predictor of voter participation. Why isn’t an 80 to 90 percent turnout possible? Be brave and vote!