Voter participation for the primary election fell to roughly 15% — a shameful mark for political involvement in Burbank, especially given what thousands of people in Egypt, Tunisia, Libya and other nations have endured in the pro-democracy struggles in recent weeks.
Apparently, the possibility of a sidewalk along a two-block stretch of Screenland Drive wasn’t enough to rile the masses, never mind ongoing reforms at the Police Department, development and traffic issues, city employee compensation and a potentially brutal budgeting process.
Politicos say the all vote-by-mail balloting system contributes to voter apathy because it lacks the traditional build-up to election day polling places. Turnout had been steadily increasing with the current system, but Tuesday marked a big setback.
