Readers React: Is low voter turnout in California really a problem?

To the editor: Three-fourths of likely voters in California cannot identify Neel Kashkari as Gov. Jerry Brown’s Republican opponent? Not entirely surprising. Far more fascinating is the 15% who could not identify Brown as their governor and the additional 1% who thought Arnold Schwarzenegger still holds the office. (“Only 1 in 4 likely voters can identify Gov. Jerry Brown’s opponent,” Sept. 12)

If we can assume that knowledgeable voters are far more likely to actually cast ballots in an election than those who are ignorant of their elected officials and, by extension, critical issues of concern to the state, then I ask why worry about low voter turnout? I would much rather have elections decided by a relatively small number of informed voters than by a large number of voters who, for whatever reason, have not done their homework.

Jay Soloway, Pasadena

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