In the wake of the special election Nov. 3, the unpleasantness of low voter turnout reared its ugly head again. I’d be rich if I had a dollar for every time I’ve heard hand-wringing officials and politicians bemoan the apathy of the U.S. citizenry.

Despite this dog and pony show of showing concern about lack of voters’ involvement, we overlook or purposely ignore the wisdom that says if you want people to do something, make it easy for them to do it. Instead, we are hell bent on continuing to make voting more difficult or inconvenient in order to keep the unwashed masses away from the polls.

I blame the Republican Party.

Studies show low voter turnout helps GOP candidates and issues win. It’s these minorities and poor folks who might favor the Democrats, but too many of them don’t show up unless there’s a presidential election.

According to the Allegan County Clerk’s web site, only 16.3% of registered voters in the 80^th Legislative District cast ballots in the highly publicized special election last Tuesday. And the result was nothing less than the restoration of the status quo.

A tip of the hat should go to Mary Whiteford for accomplishing something now-former State Rep. Cindy Gamrat was unable to do in August 2014 — win the primary election with a majority of votes cast. She polled better than 51%, 10 percent higher than Gamrat’s winning figure in a four-way primary race a year ago.

I have railed for a long time against the rigged formula we’ve endured for too long, in which four or more candidates fight for the GOP primary victory and the winner is by plurality. No matter, the rigged game assures primary winner then will be a state legislator for the next six years, raking in $480,000 in salary and some of the best health care benefits on the planet.

Cindy was on track to be state legislator for six years, but stumbled big time and now faces paradise lost. It wasn’t just her infidelity and coverup, it also was her inability to get along with the Big Club that is the GOP. She and Todd Courser were outsiders from a group that was glad to get rid of them in September.

Meanwhile, the rigged and badly broken down electoral system will continue to reap low voter turnout and apathy because, as George Carlin told us, “the game is rigged” and our districts are gerrymandered.

Republicans spend a lot of time insisting on requirements such as voter ID that disenfranchise those who don’t drive cars. Elections continue to be inconvenient exercises conducted on a business day (a Tuesday) from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., a time when too many working stiffs have to juggle commitments and work just to fine enough time to stand in line at the polls.

Oregon has gotten past the low voter turnout problem with a mail-in system that reaped 89% turnout recently. Unfortunately, that idea heavily favored Democrats, so Republicans won’t let it happen. They’ll continue to try to find ways to hinder and obstruct the unwashed masses by making them jump through lots of hoops.

In a republic or democracy, voting is the difference between us and totalitarian societies. Voting is a cornerstone, a sacred right, not just a privilege like driving a car.

Our apathetic voters will be at it again next March, next August and next November. And the more things change, the more they will stay the same.

Never underestimate the power of those who fight to keep the status quo.